Is this right?

[3/5 King]

So I just bottled my ACA last night and I tried a glass of it and I have to say it has a citrus/fruity flavor. Upfront is light hop bitterness and then it finishes a little sweet and citriusy. I'm assuming age/carbonation/and cold bottles this should be the way it is supposed to taste??? I do not think it has any type of contamination. But when I first tasted it when taking my FG it tasted different and my FG has not changed so I figured it wasn't from fermentible sugars that hadn't fermented yet....it is just weird...it seems that if I were to have one carb'd and cold it would be light crisp and smooth. IDK what do you think??:k2:

[Barley-Davidson]

I've always found it difficult to judge a beer from a post ferment / pre-carb sample. The flavors are too green and the yeast is too prominent IMO.

I know lots of brewers can get a good sense of the beer from it, but not me. I'm more looking for defects and a broad sense of the flavor profile.

Sounds like your sample it right where it belongs, it should be a fine beer once it's ready.

[Lerxst]

I think that early on, it's common to try and read too much in that what samples of green beer tastes like. It's kinda like tasting cake batter and trying to figure out what the finished baked and iced cake is going to taste like...you have some clues but it paints a very incomplete picture. It's all really reference points to take note of for future brews to give you a glimpse at where the beer is headed.

I'd have to see the recipe and brew schedule to take a stab at what I'd guess an uncarbed green sample should or should not taste like. Even then, it's not really worth a whole lot since your beer is going to change quite a bit as it matures.

[3/5 King]

it seems like that fruity taste is a combination of the little bit of malt flavors in the background mixed with the slight alcohol taste. It starts with a slight bitterness of hops, then trails off quick into that slightly fruity flavor. I think that with maturity the alcohol presence will taper off and the smoothness of the mouth will remain with a crisp carb,d finish. Just a though of were I think the beer is going. It is an ACA, simple recipe....didn't come out as clear as it should have, I think it will clear a little more when it matures but there will still be a touch of cloud to it.

[zoebisch01]

I'd have to see the recipe and brew schedule to take a stab at what I'd guess an uncarbed green sample should or should not taste like. Even then, it's not really worth a whole lot since your beer is going to change quite a bit as it matures.

Agreed. There is so much from here-to-there that is going to happen. All one can do is wait until the time passes because there are oodles of processes (of which are a mystery to me) taking place that will alter that beer's flavor.

Fast forward a few weeks (although I am not sure what ACA stands for?) when you have a fully carbonated bottle at around 50 - 55 F and taste it. If you still have odd issues then they can be addressed in the recipe or process. :alc:

[davebl]

Fast forward a few weeks (although I am not sure what ACA stands for?)

I think American Cream Ale

[zoebisch01]

I think American Cream Ale

Ahh, ok rgr. Well in that case you shouldn't have to wait terribly long.