argon
firmitas, utilitas, venustas
- Joined
- 8/5/09
- Messages
- 2,994
- Reaction score
- 125
Well thought Id report in on a swollen cube :angry: first one ever first infection in an AG brew thatd make 1 out of about 30+ batches
Not sure what happened. Luckily I do double batches into 2 cubes. Cube 1 is fine no infection the second has swollen up.
Pitched the first cube about a week before the second so hopefully its not a case of not knowing the first was infected.
I pitched the second one anyway just to see what happens. Its a munich lager so Id say Ill notice any off flavours fairly easily. When I opened the cube it had a small ring of gelatinized clearish/whitish gunk on the inside of the lid and opening.
I did the usual method of filling and squeezing as much air as possible, sealing up, then tipping on the side to pasteurize the lid. Same method Ive always been using. I also starsan the cube and lid shake it all around and leave it for at least 30 mins. Open the cube up just at flame out, pour out sanitizer, shake as mush foam out as possible, then drain the kettle into it so not sure where it picked up the infection.
Only thing I can think of is that the lid wasnt sealed properly... although it didnt leak and I had a hard time getting it off at pitching.
Anyhoo see what happens to this batch maybe next time Ill be adding boiling water to the cube first shake and bake, then starsan, then drain to cube. Ill probably bleach the cube and use some other sanitizers in the meantime before using it again or might just be a good enough excuse for new cube.
Not sure what happened. Luckily I do double batches into 2 cubes. Cube 1 is fine no infection the second has swollen up.
Pitched the first cube about a week before the second so hopefully its not a case of not knowing the first was infected.
I pitched the second one anyway just to see what happens. Its a munich lager so Id say Ill notice any off flavours fairly easily. When I opened the cube it had a small ring of gelatinized clearish/whitish gunk on the inside of the lid and opening.
I did the usual method of filling and squeezing as much air as possible, sealing up, then tipping on the side to pasteurize the lid. Same method Ive always been using. I also starsan the cube and lid shake it all around and leave it for at least 30 mins. Open the cube up just at flame out, pour out sanitizer, shake as mush foam out as possible, then drain the kettle into it so not sure where it picked up the infection.
Only thing I can think of is that the lid wasnt sealed properly... although it didnt leak and I had a hard time getting it off at pitching.
Anyhoo see what happens to this batch maybe next time Ill be adding boiling water to the cube first shake and bake, then starsan, then drain to cube. Ill probably bleach the cube and use some other sanitizers in the meantime before using it again or might just be a good enough excuse for new cube.