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Date: 03 Jul 2006 02:59:50
From: Thomas Adams
Subject: Disappearing Head?
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I bottled my version of a Kriek about three months ago. I tested a bottle
after a month just to see what it was like. Rather harsh with bret. and oak
but the head was a great wheat white with fine bubbles. Now a couple of
months later I decide to try one and open it and there is no head. Where has
my head gone. I have looked in the obvious places, that being a brewer, I
would expect to find my head. I even , at the risk of her telling me where
to stick it, asked the wife. After all I brewed this Kriek for her. She
likes Lindemans. Now back to reality, does anyone have a clue as to would
cause a lambic to go flat in the bottle? I asked myself all the normal
questions like enough priming sugar (1 cup), enough yeast (it was great one
month after), temp swings ( steady at room temp), bad caps ( they are the
same type I use all the time with no problems), or even light (brown bottles
stored in boxes under a table). The two people at the LHBS today had no idea
either. The flavor is softening really nice. In several more months it
should be very drinkable, if I can find it's head that is. I would hate to
have headless lambic.
--
Thomas Cameron Adams
imcelt2@redrivercamerons.org
darkhorsebrewing@verizon.net
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Date: 03 Jul 2006 03:58:27
From: John 'Shaggy' Kolesar
Subject: Re: Disappearing Head?
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On Mon, 03 Jul 2006 02:59:50 GMT, <imcelt2@verizon.net > wrote:
> I bottled my version of a Kriek about three months ago. I tested a bottle
> after a month just to see what it was like. Rather harsh with bret. and oak
> but the head was a great wheat white with fine bubbles. Now a couple of
> months later I decide to try one and open it and there is no head. Where has
> my head gone.
Is the carbonation level lower, or is it just the head that is gone. IE,
do you have carbonation but the head doesn't form? If the carbonation is
lower, then I would suspect that the bottles either did not carbonate
the same (were all stored at the same temp?) or else that the priming
sugar was not evenly distributed. Did you prime each bottle individually
or did you "batch" prime the whole 5 gallons before bottling?
If it's just the head that is gone, one of the components contributing to
the head is the presence of proteins. I don't know for sure, but I
wonder if some of the odd bacteria in a beer like this effects the level
of proteins any? It might be possible that they are breaking down
some of the proteins which has the side effect of reducing the head
retention of the beer.
John.
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Date: 03 Jul 2006 04:12:21
From: Thomas Adams
Subject: Re: Disappearing Head?
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"John 'Shaggy' Kolesar" <spam@shagg.net > wrote in message
news:slrneah5im.no.spam@weizen.shagg.net...
> On Mon, 03 Jul 2006 02:59:50 GMT, <imcelt2@verizon.net> wrote:
> > I bottled my version of a Kriek about three months ago. I tested a
bottle
> > after a month just to see what it was like. Rather harsh with bret. and
oak
> > but the head was a great wheat white with fine bubbles. Now a couple of
> > months later I decide to try one and open it and there is no head. Where
has
> > my head gone.
>
> Is the carbonation level lower, or is it just the head that is gone. IE,
> do you have carbonation but the head doesn't form? If the carbonation is
> lower, then I would suspect that the bottles either did not carbonate
> the same (were all stored at the same temp?) or else that the priming
> sugar was not evenly distributed. Did you prime each bottle individually
> or did you "batch" prime the whole 5 gallons before bottling?
The bottles were all stored together at room temp in Texas (80deg.F). It was
batched primed (1 cup corn sugar) boiled with water and beer racked onto
this.
>
> If it's just the head that is gone, one of the components contributing to
> the head is the presence of proteins. I don't know for sure, but I
> wonder if some of the odd bacteria in a beer like this effects the level
> of proteins any? It might be possible that they are breaking down
> some of the proteins which has the side effect of reducing the head
> retention of the beer.
>
It seems to be that the carbonation is down some as well. I just seems
strange that the carbonation level dropped overa couple of months. I wonder
if this is pecular to lambics? I haven's had any other beers do this without
some outside influance like severe temp swings.
>
> John.
--
Thomas Cameron Adams
imcelt2@redrivercamerons.org
darkhorsebrewing@verizon.net
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