No Chill bitterness effects?

[Edd]

I have just bottled my first NC batch and, wow, she’s bitter! Not in a sour or off tasting way (bar the mild plastic taste due, I think, to a brand new cube being used), the aroma is delicious (Galaxy finishing hops) but it’s very bitter. Could the use of a NC really produce such a significant effect? I didn’t notice any sign of infection and I have been very particular with cleaning and sanitising of all kit.

Hop addictions as follows

30g Cascade @ 60
45g Cascade @ 10
30g Cascade + 15g Galaxy @ 5
30g Cascade @ 0
45g Galaxy @ 3 days dry hop

There was a whirlfloc chucked in @ 10 also.

 

[manticle]

As the wort stays hot longer (above about 80), you'll extract more bitterness from late additions. More an issue with something like your ipa above than say an alt for example.

You can look at moving all late additions to whirlpool or cube to reduce/fix. There are other methods, including reducing the size of your 60 min addition.

 

[laxation]

You need to push everything back 15-20 minutes. For a recipe like the one you posted, I would do this:

30g Cascade @ 60
30g Cascade @ 0
75g Cascade + 15g Galaxy @ cube
45g Galaxy @ 3 days dry hop

 

[Ducatiboy stu]

I have just bottled my first NC batch and, wow, she’s bitter! Not in a sour or off tasting way (bar the mild plastic taste due, I think, to a brand new cube being used), the aroma is delicious (Galaxy finishing hops) but it’s very bitter. Could the use of a NC really produce such a significant effect? I didn’t notice any sign of infection and I have been very particular with cleaning and sanitising of all kit.

Yes

This has been discussed a million times on AHB

When we first started No-Chill ( some of us almost got burnt at the stake for daring to to mention it ) the first thing we noticed was the beer was more bitter

Eventually we worked out it was the extended time being hot that caused the extra bitternes, so basically you need to push everything back by 15-20mins , IE, reduce your addition times by 15-20mins

With NC a 0min addition ends up being a 15-20min addition

 

[Edd]

Thanks for reply’s, I had seen some posts recommending the readjustment of hopping but also some to the contrary. I guess having now experienced it first hand I will be moving to the ‘readjustment’ camp for my next brew. The advised hop reschedule above looks well worth a try, thanks @laxation
It’s amazing how slight changes can have such a significant effect on the beer.

 

[laxation]

I brewed two beers without adjusting and since moving it a few minutes, haven't looked back
The non-adjusted beers were still good, but just more bitter as you picked up.

I haven't found a 0 minute addition to add a whole lot, but I'm not very picky and haven't made many of each. Be interesting to hear what others think of this addition

 

[wide eyed and legless]

The thing about the extra bitterness is you learn to live with it, since changing to the Argon method I am missing the extra bitterness. Such is life.

 

[Edd]

The thing about the extra bitterness is you learn to live with it, since changing to the Argon method I am missing the extra bitterness. Such is life.

Cheers, but whats the 'Argon method' mate? Sounds serious.

 

[Edd]

I brewed two beers without adjusting and since moving it a few minutes, haven't looked back
The non-adjusted beers were still good, but just more bitter as you picked up.

I haven't found a 0 minute addition to add a whole lot, but I'm not very picky and haven't made many of each. Be interesting to hear what others think of this addition

I'm throwing a brew down this weekend. I will slightly tweak the additions and see what comes out. Nice one.

 

[wide eyed and legless]

Cheers, but whats the 'Argon method' mate? Sounds serious.

https://aussiehomebrewer.com/threads/late-hopping-and-no-chilling-guide.55801/

 

[TheSumOfAllBeers]

I regularly hit my IBU ceiling with no chill, especially with high alpha hops.

 

[Bomber Rock]

I've done 3 all grain BIAB's now, all into no chill cubes. First 2 were kits, and the third a furphy clone based on a thread here. For whatever reason, the first, a pacific ale from Grain & Grape tasted as it should (I assume). The 2nd (a NZ Pilsner from Beer Co) treated a little too bitter than I think it should have, but was still a delight to drink.

The furphy clone, I tasted last night, even though it isn't fully carbonated yet. It is way too bitter. Don't get me wrong, I'll still drink it. Ironically, for brews 2 and 3, I adjusted the hops additions to factor in no chill. The other interesting point, the outside ambient temp was hotter for each batch I brewed, so perhaps each batch took that bit longer to drop below 80deg C?

What are everyone's thoughts on putting the no chill cube, once filled, into an ice bath to get the Temp below 80 as quick as possible?

 

[Ducatiboy stu]

What are everyone's thoughts on putting the no chill cube, once filled, into an ice bath to get the Temp below 80 as quick as possible?

Nothing wrong with that at all. A pool is even better

 

[Rocker1986]

I've found the last few APAs I've done have been a little over bittered as well, now I've been brewing NC for 5 years and only recently started noticing this issue, but I also have pretty much quit smoking this year so maybe the taste buds are a bit more sensitive to it than they used to be.

I normally have either a 60 minute or first wort hop addition, then the rest from 10 minutes and below. On the most recent batch I decided to leave the late additions as normal and simply reduce the amount of the 60 minute addition to drop the IBUs down to the mid 30s instead of the 38-40 I have used up until now. I also employed a cube hop. This batch is due in the FV on either Sunday or Monday so I'll know how it worked out in about 3 weeks.

 

[Bomber Rock]

Unfortunately, I don't have a pool, or the money to have one built. Will definitely give the ice bath a go next brew.

Rocker, I should point out, I move my 15min additions to flame out and flame out to cube, but yeah, still quite bitter.

 

[mattyh77]

I've got one in the fermenter now where I didn't do a 60 min addition. Moved it to 30 and the rest at flameout. Dry hopping tomorrow. All with Simcoe. Will see if it's a little less bitter.

 

[laxation]

Worth giving a go putting all the hops in the cube, not at flameout. I've loved beers made that way.
Edit* if you find FO still too bitter

 

[peteru]

Unfortunately, I don't have a pool, or the money to have one built.

One of those kids inflatable pools, filled with rain water from the tank could do the trick.

If you get a submersible pump, you might be able to have the water re-circulate. From water tank, running over the cube, into kiddie pool, then pumped back into water tank.

 

[Rocker1986]

I suppose I technically "move" additions as well but I just construct recipes with the NC effect in mind and list them where they're to be added. If I brewed someone else's recipe I'd do it as written first and then change things if needed if I brewed it again.

 

[Edd]

I've got one in the fermenter now where I didn't do a 60 min addition. Moved it to 30 and the rest at flameout. Dry hopping tomorrow. All with Simcoe. Will see if it's a little less bitter.

Let us know how that bad boy goes, this is how I might go for the next one. Funnily enough when I put the hops into BeerSmith based on the recipe stated at start of thread the IBU is nearly 70 anyway. That’s pretty damn bitter, right? Looks a bit OTT for an APA by my reckoning. ****, there’s so much to learn about this stuff!