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Sweetness in beer

W

wbc_leelee

I have brewed a couple of beers recently that have fermented well and ended up at 1.010-1.012, however these beers have been fairly sweet with full mouth feel. they are hopped to 27 IBU but there is a pronounced sweetness to them, my wife tells me they 'taste thick".
these where all grain lager beers . Can anyone tell me why they taste so sweet.
Regards
Andrew
 
Can you post the recipe? And your procedures? That will help in diagnosing any potential problems.
 
here is one of the recipes, hope you can see something in this, thanks in advance for the help
regards
Andrew

Bohemian Pilsner
Brew Type: All Grain Date: 2/09/2003
Style: Bohemian Pilsner Brewer: Andrew Clark
Batch Size: 21.50 L Assistant Brewer:  
Boil Volume: 24.88 L Boil Time: 60 min
Equipment: Brew Pot (6+gal) and Igloo/Gott Cooler (5 Gal) Brewhouse Efficiency: 75.0 %

Taste Rating (50 possible points): 30.0
Very sweet not much bitterness and very thick depite fermenting down to 1.010

Ingredients Amount Item Type % or IBU
4.50 kg Pale Malt (2 Row) UK (6 EBC) Grain 84.1 %
0.45 kg Cara-Pils/Dextrine (4 EBC) Grain 8.4 %
0.30 kg Vienna Malt (7 EBC) Grain 5.6 %
0.10 kg Acid Malt (6 EBC) Grain 1.9 %
35.00 gm Saaz N.Z [8.5%] (60 min) Hops 32.5 IBU
15.00 gm Saaz [4.5%] (15 min) Hops 3.7 IBU
0.28 tsp Irish Moss (Boil 10.0 min) Misc  
1 Pkgs German Lager (White Labs #WLP830) Yeast-Lager  

Beer Profile Estimated Original Gravity: 1.055 SG (1.044-1.056 SG) Measured Original Gravity: 1.052 SG
Estimated Final Gravity: 1.012 SG (1.013-1.017 SG) Measured Final Gravity: 1.010 SG
Estimated Color: 10 EBC (6-10 EBC) Color [Color]
Bitterness: 36.1 IBU (35.0-45.0 IBU) Alpha Acid Units: 2.3 AAU
Estimated Alcohol by Volume: 5.6 % (4.0-5.3 %) Actual Alcohol by Volume: 5.5 %
Actual Calories per 12 oz: 172 cal


Mash Profile Name: Single Infusion, Light Body, No Mash Out Mash Tun Weight: 2.00 kg
Mash Grain Weight: 5.35 kg Mash PH: 5.4 PH
Grain Temperature: 22.2 C Sparge Temperature: 75.6 C
Sparge Water: 16.29 L Adjust Temp for Equipment: No

Name Description Step Temp Step Time
Mash In Add 13.95 L of water at 71.9 C 65.6 C 75 min


Mash Notes
Simple single infusion mash for use with most modern well modified grains (about 95% of the time).
Carbonation and Storage Carbonation Type: Kegged (Forced CO2) Carbonation Volumes: 2.4 (2.3-2.6 vols)
Estimated Pressure: 86.8 KPA Kegging Temperature: 6.0 C
Pressure Used: - Age for: 1.0 Weeks
Storage Temperature: 6.0 C


 
Andrew,
 This is just my guess...

 The Vienna malt will add some sweetness - it is closely related to munich malt but not as sweet.

 The Cara Pils will add substantial body to the beer, though not much flavor.

 Remember that most commercial lagers (outside Germany) are made with a large portion of adjuncts such as rice.  These adjuncts lighten the beer significantly and are highly fermentable but actually reduce the body of the beer.  Your significant other may be thinking of this type of lager.  True German lagers do have both body and sweetness (the exception perhaps being Koelsch).  

 If you are shooting for a true Bohemian Lager, it will have some sweetness.

Cheers!
Brad
 
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