First Infection Grrrr!

[Ross]

Chappo,

If cooling in the fermenter, in a fridge with mould etc you are asking for trouble as the wort cools & sucks in air.
You can remedy this with a good fridge clean, or use a "sanitary filter" as your airlock, it will filter air being sucked in & let co2 out.
Is the beer already on the lawn, or have you got some to bring round the shop for a tasting?


cheers Ross

 

[chappo1970]

They might even be dead already given the fact they don't survive in beer, they can only live in wort not beer. They are not a big deal to get rid and any normal cleaning routine will see you right.

For what its worth I ferment in a fridge containing alsort of food stuffs i just don't use a air lock and seal the lid real tight untill Co2 has started to be produced then crack it slightly for a few days then seal it back tight again even before ferment is completely finished.

I'm going to take a trip to CB's at lunch time so I'll check out what wickedly evil chemicals he has at my disposal.

I do exactly the same, Jayse. I gave up on airlocks and all that malarky a while ago and have had trouble free brewing up until now. I just bung or put a sterilized upturned shot glass over the airlock holes. I used to glad wrap so I might go back to that until I get this sorted out.

The thing that grinds my guts about this is I know a few very good brewers up my way that have such a hard long slog and a bad time to boot trying to rid themselves of an infection.

Cheers

Chappo

 

[chappo1970]

Chappo,

If cooling in the fermenter, in a fridge with mould etc you are asking for trouble as the wort cools & sucks in air.
You can remedy this with a good fridge clean, or use a "sanitary filter" as your airlock, it will filter air being sucked in & let co2 out.
Is the beer already on the lawn, or have you got some to bring round the shop for a tasting?


cheers Ross

Not yet I can bring some in for ya to taste but you'll hate me for it!

Chappo

 

[bum]

Don't forget to save a bottle for the winner of the bum screen-shot thread!

 

[mwd]

Not yet I can bring some in for ya to taste but you'll hate me for it!

Chappo

Probably be able to help identify it though which puts you on track to avoiding it in future.

Q: If you put sanitiser fluid in your S type airlock would it stop airbourne infection if you get a back flow as the fermenter cools down or when you lift it up.?

 

[chappo1970]

TB,
Yeah I'm take a sample in to Ross to be sure I'm on the right track.

Don't forget to save a bottle for the winner of the bum screen-shot thread!

@Bum I couldn't do it to my worst enemy but I be sure to send a decent bottle to the winner even if it has to be a commercial.

After discussing the situation with Ross (Cheers Mate!) I'm thinking it is more than likely a wild yeast infection as I have about 6 or 7 citrus fruit trees fruiting ATM in the backyard? Not sure but Ross's sensitive palate should give me some more ideas/solutions.

Chappo

 

[Cocko]

I hope you get it sorted mate...

I reckon it is clearly your MLT and Kettle - Best replace them with 100L vessels and get it sorted!

 

[Phoney]

Chappo, if you saw the inside of my fermentation fridge, you'd be horrified,

Mine too!

It's got mould spots like a leopard skin inside and reeks of mustiness. Im not using it at the moment as it stays a perfect 18C in my kitchen at the mo, but im thinking i'll be needing to give it a good clean soon! :huh:

 

[RetsamHsam]

How do you guys know what bandaids taste like?

What do you do with your used band aids?? :unsure:

Chappo,

Are you any closer to finding out what caused this?

 

[chappo1970]

Talking it thru with Ross I am 99% sure it's a wild yeast infection that got stuck into my wort before I pitched a healthy number of good yeasties into the wort. I'm going to take a sample into him tomorrow to be sure but I am almost certain this is the case.

What I did is changed my usual routine of chill and pitch immediately.

Cheers

Chappo

 

[bum]

Well, all things considered, that's a pretty easy fix. Good luck on keeping a lid on it (so to speak).

 

[chappo1970]

WooHoo NO SIGNS OF INFECTION so far! Three brews fermenting ATM all have been taste tested and absolutely no signs of an infection at the moment. All are attenuating as expected. Gave the brewery another go over last night and being very cautious of everything that will come into contact with my beer. I really think it was a wild yeast that smash that one beer so by taking a few more precautions seems to have paid off.

Cheers

Chappo

 

[crundle]

Great to hear Chappo, I hope all goes well from here on in. You might have to consider yourself lucky if that is all the problem is, and fortunate to have only lost the one batch in the process. I bet you will become extremely vigilant about brewing in fruiting season (unless you are making lambics?).

Crundle

 

[chappo1970]

Great to hear Chappo, I hope all goes well from here on in. You might have to consider yourself lucky if that is all the problem is, and fortunate to have only lost the one batch in the process. I bet you will become extremely vigilant about brewing in fruiting season (unless you are making lambics?).

Crundle

+GAZILLION BILLION!!!! :beerbang:

Chappo

 

[jayse]

snipped>>>
....... (unless you are making lambics?).

Bit of a difference between a lambic and a beer that taste like rotten dim sims and used bandaids. :lol:

 

[Supra-Jim]

Good to hear all is sorted and Chateaux Chappo is ramping back up to its normally rampant production rate!

( h34r: was this 'infection' a ruse for SWMBO so you could go and spend more time down at Craftbrewer? h34r: )

Cheers SJ

 

[Katherine]

How do you guys know what bandaids taste like?

That's what I always used to think, until it happens to you! You then realise what a bandaid tastes like.... nothing like beer by the way! Medicine like!

 

[chappo1970]

Good to hear all is sorted and Chateaux Chappo is ramping back up to its normally rampant production rate!

( h34r: was this 'infection' a ruse for SWMBO so you could go and spend more time down at Craftbrewer? h34r: )

Cheers SJ

Cheers SJ! Certainly a relief.

I wouldn't stoop to those levels just to be allowed to see my mate Ross! . You see my ruse is Ross is my mate, so I visit my mate who just soooo happens to own a HBS that he never leaves, so in order to see him I have to go to the shop, it's not my fault is it?

That's what I always used to think, until it happens to you! You then realise what a bandaid tastes like.... nothing like beer by the way! Medicine like!

Does anybody remember being given that bloody terrible cherry flavoured cough syrup as a kid? You know the one that had that god horrible teeth scraping artificial cherry taste only to be over powered 2 seconds later by that lingering bitter phenolic medicine taste! You would kick and scream blue bloody murder as soon as the bottle and table spoon came out of the cupboard. Once pounced on and dosed you would run around the house trying to find the cat so you lick it's a5s to get rid of the taste... :unsure: (too far perhaps?)

Anyway that's what I get flashbacks of when tasting an infected beer.

Cheers

Chappo

Edit: Speelingz

 

[Katherine]

Its a very interesting experience, one you have to have but dont want!

 

[mwd]

That's what I always used to think, until it happens to you! You then realise what a bandaid tastes like.... nothing like beer by the way! Medicine like!

Have you tried 'root beer' tastes like draught Germaline :icon_cheers: or wintergreen flavoured lollies. Lifesavers is the name of them in the US.