What It This?

[Brewing_Brad]

Hey guys & gals,

I bottle some ginger beer on Thursday evening and I plunked a chunk of sanitised ginger in the bottle and then buggered off for the weekend. When I returned I found this white scum on the top of the liquid (see photos). I cracked open a bottle to give it the old olfactory test and it smells fine. But I thought I'd run it past the experts to see what you make of it.

The only difference between this and the last batch I made was that I bottled this one in clear bottles, so I may not have noticed the scum in the previous batch, if there was any.

I'd love to hear you thoughts.

Cheers
Brad

(PS: Sorry about the typo in the title)

 

[Bandito]

I hope you just forgot to rotate the picture, cos if the bottle is laying down the stuff on the top is the least of your problems! Reading your sig may explain it though....

The world IS falling over!

This thread may help: http://www.aussiehomebrewer.com/forum/inde...showtopic=51830

And the avatar is upside down too! LMFAO!

 

[Bribie G]

Just the one bottle or the whole batch?
Looks like an airborne infection of the variety that you get if you leave a glass of beer overnight next to a drip tray that hasn't been cleaned out properly - can progress to a vinegar and stinky socks infection. However seeing as it's only three days, it still tastes ok, and you should have developed some carb by now, then if you have space chill the entire batch of affected bottles down to low fridge temps and drink fairly soon. That should stop it in its tracks for a while.

 

[Brewing_Brad]

Just the one bottle or the whole batch?
Looks like an airborne infection of the variety that you get if you leave a glass of beer overnight next to a drip tray that hasn't been cleaned out properly - can progress to a vinegar and stinky socks infection. However seeing as it's only three days, it still tastes ok, and you should have developed some carb by now, then if you have space chill the entire batch of affected bottles down to low fridge temps and drink fairly soon. That should stop it in its tracks for a while.

Hey guys,

Thanks for the responses (and yes Bandito, the world is safe, just my laziness in not rotating the pic).

Bribie, how long do you reckon I can keep it for in the fridge? I made it special for a for mate's party, which is two weeks.

Cheers
Brad

 

[raven19]

Undisturbed it might be ok for a few days, however waiting a few weeks, I would be concerned.

Infection for sure based on that pic.

 

[Brewing_Brad]

Undisturbed it might be ok for a few days, however waiting a few weeks, I would be concerned.

Infection for sure based on that pic.

Man! That's a shame! It's a brilliant brew too (well, the last one was). I'll just have to invite my mate over to help drink 'em all before they go bad.

Cheers
Brad

 

[Bribie G]

If you have the fridge space, then get them down to as close to freezing as possible, shake gently to get rid of the skin, and serve to drink on the day. If they still taste ok you should get away with it without anyone noticing. And up your public liability insurance

 

[mika]

Just call it a 'Sour' ginger beer, no one will know

 

[Brewing_Brad]

If you have the fridge space, then get them down to as close to freezing as possible, shake gently to get rid of the skin, and serve to drink on the day. If they still taste ok you should get away with it without anyone noticing. And up your public liability insurance

The lowest my brew fridge goes is 8 degrees and my signifcant bother won't let me swap out the food in the house fridge (it gets down to 4).

Oh well...we'll see what happens, I guess. If it tastes like shit on the day, I'll ditch it. Otherwise I'll take Mika's advice and what happens (now, to find those insurance papers).

Cheers guys
Brad

 

[raven19]

The lowest my brew fridge goes is 8 degrees and my signifcant bother won't let me swap out the food in the house fridge (it gets down to 4).

Oh well...we'll see what happens, I guess. If it tastes like shit on the day, I'll ditch it. Otherwise I'll take Mika's advice and what happens (now, to find those insurance papers).

Worst case, you sample one every couple of days up till the party. If terrible buy a carton a commercial brew, otherwise you may just get away with it (as per Bribie's post).

 

[TmC]

I dont mean to hijack this thread but i bottled my 3rd brew (APA) on thursday, i noticed that some of my bottles have a small layer of white foam on the top, i had taste and it tastes ok, if it tastes ok, but if it is infected, will it make me sick? Just curious because the gas is bad enough :lol:

 

[mika]

I doubt it, if drinking Cantillion doesn't make you sick, I think 99.9% of beer infections are fine...... unless said infection is caused by someone throwing raw meat into your fermenter.

 

[Brewing_Brad]

unless said infection is caused by someone throwing raw meat into your fermenter.

So, raw meat is not a suitable adjunct? Damn, there goes that plan!

 

[NickB]

Or Cock Ale :icon_vomit:

 

[felten]

AFAIK no human pathogens can survive in beer, but if you get sick and die i cant be held liable.

I believe meat used to be used as a source of nitrogen in some traditional brews like cider. :X

 

[fat matt]

I have herd that they use to sling a dead rat into cider.

 

[Brewing_Brad]

Or Cock Ale :icon_vomit:

Did this recipe bring tears to anyone else's eyes?

 

[going down a hill]

Did this recipe bring tears to anyone else's eyes?

Yes, right after reading "Take 10 gallons of ale and a large cock".