I think one of my fermenters has picked up a nasty infection which I can't seem to get rid of.
I was using this fermenter to store some other brewing bits and pieces after brewing. I cleaned it out, filled it with water and napisan, and threw my spoon, airlock, racking hose etc in there. I honestly can't remember how long I left it sit there with that gear in it, except for the hose the rest wasn't being used. I'd say it sat for at least 2mths.
I finally went to use the fermenter again, I wanted to make a batch of ginger beer for the kids, I opened the lid up and went to pour everything out into the laundry sink, there was a whiteish film on top, and it appeared a bit like jelly suspended all through the water. I emptied it, gave it a good wash and left it to dry. When I went to sanitise it for my brew, I noticed it had a bit of a funny smell, I sanitised as normal with Idophor anyway, and then left it to dry afterwards. I could still smell that funny smell, so I decided to use some bleach, a little over a cupfull and filled the fermenter to the top leaving it to soak for about 3 days. I couldn't smell it anymore, so I made up the ginger beer for the kids.
The GB has been bottled for nearly 2 weeks, and they all seemed nice and firm(plastic bottles) so I decided to pop a couple in the fridge to test carbonation. Pouring a glass tonight, as soon as it hit the glass there was a huge smell, you couldn't get within arms length of the glass without smelling it. The GB also looked MUCH lighter in colour than I expected, it was almost clear, unlike previous batches I have made.
In the bottom of the bottle, there were some soft chunks that floated to the top after pouring, big chunks the size of a 10c piece, nothing like I have ever seen before with any of my other beers. I opened another bottle to confirm, and it also smells that way, and as soon as I opened it, I could see the bits start to float up off the bottom.
So, what have I got, and how can I get rid of it... After trying both Idophor and bleach, I'm thinking that I might be needing a new fermenter.
I've also got another brew in that fermenter going at the moment, it's an APA which has gone down from 1054 to 1030 in 2days and still tastes ok so far... I think.
Cheers
Ben
I was using this fermenter to store some other brewing bits and pieces after brewing. I cleaned it out, filled it with water and napisan, and threw my spoon, airlock, racking hose etc in there. I honestly can't remember how long I left it sit there with that gear in it, except for the hose the rest wasn't being used. I'd say it sat for at least 2mths.
I finally went to use the fermenter again, I wanted to make a batch of ginger beer for the kids, I opened the lid up and went to pour everything out into the laundry sink, there was a whiteish film on top, and it appeared a bit like jelly suspended all through the water. I emptied it, gave it a good wash and left it to dry. When I went to sanitise it for my brew, I noticed it had a bit of a funny smell, I sanitised as normal with Idophor anyway, and then left it to dry afterwards. I could still smell that funny smell, so I decided to use some bleach, a little over a cupfull and filled the fermenter to the top leaving it to soak for about 3 days. I couldn't smell it anymore, so I made up the ginger beer for the kids.
The GB has been bottled for nearly 2 weeks, and they all seemed nice and firm(plastic bottles) so I decided to pop a couple in the fridge to test carbonation. Pouring a glass tonight, as soon as it hit the glass there was a huge smell, you couldn't get within arms length of the glass without smelling it. The GB also looked MUCH lighter in colour than I expected, it was almost clear, unlike previous batches I have made.
In the bottom of the bottle, there were some soft chunks that floated to the top after pouring, big chunks the size of a 10c piece, nothing like I have ever seen before with any of my other beers. I opened another bottle to confirm, and it also smells that way, and as soon as I opened it, I could see the bits start to float up off the bottom.
So, what have I got, and how can I get rid of it... After trying both Idophor and bleach, I'm thinking that I might be needing a new fermenter.
I've also got another brew in that fermenter going at the moment, it's an APA which has gone down from 1054 to 1030 in 2days and still tastes ok so far... I think.
Cheers
Ben
