Infection or just a poor brew??
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- Piss Artist
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Infection or just a poor brew??
I recently brewed a Punk IPA clone using the Brewdog recipe. It's cloudier than any brew I've made up to now (they've all been pretty crystal clear other than my wheat beers) which I initially put down to the high level of dry hopping and using a US yeast. However, I'm sure they're getting a bit fizzier and they're just slightly the sour side of bitter. I don't recall any mishaps or mistakes in my sanitisation routine and it was one of the very few brews I've used a dry yeast on (US05), so the slight increased likelihood of infection from making multi level starters was absent.
From those who have had infections or just know more than me, does this sound like an infection or just not a very good brew?
From those who have had infections or just know more than me, does this sound like an infection or just not a very good brew?
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Re: Infection or just a poor brew??
Points to an infection. Haze can be down to process but your description suggests a microbiological origin. Becoming fizzier can be down to packaging too early or a wild yeast infection. The sourness suggests the latter.
I am "The Little Red Brooster"
Fermenting:
Conditioning:
Drinking: Southwold Again,
Up Next: John Barleycorn (Barley Wine)
Planning: Winter drinking Beer
Fermenting:
Conditioning:
Drinking: Southwold Again,
Up Next: John Barleycorn (Barley Wine)
Planning: Winter drinking Beer
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- Piss Artist
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Re: Infection or just a poor brew??
I was suspecting wild yeast. It’s just about drinkable... isn’t Brett the most common wild yeast infection? If so I’ll just say it’s intentional.
- orlando
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Re: Infection or just a poor brew??
Lactobacillus is favourite. It produces sourness and haze and lives on malt. Everytime a cloud of malt dust goes into the air it "rains" lactobacillus. Just call it Belgian, they seem to get away with it.
I am "The Little Red Brooster"
Fermenting:
Conditioning:
Drinking: Southwold Again,
Up Next: John Barleycorn (Barley Wine)
Planning: Winter drinking Beer
Fermenting:
Conditioning:
Drinking: Southwold Again,
Up Next: John Barleycorn (Barley Wine)
Planning: Winter drinking Beer
Re: Infection or just a poor brew??
Isn't US 05 a poor flocculator? Maybe that's the reason for the haze.
It does sound as if you have an infection as well, sadly.
It does sound as if you have an infection as well, sadly.
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- Piss Artist
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Re: Infection or just a poor brew??
Yes, I was hoping it was the yeast and dry hops but the fizziness made me think yeast infection. I was paranoid about infection before, even though I’d never had one (despite a few heat of war mistakes), I’ll be even worse now.
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- Hollow Legs
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Re: Infection or just a poor brew??
I never have any issues getting clarity out of us-05, in fact it's one of the reasons I use it. Does sound infected - sourness doesn't have many sources unless your water chemistry is way off which would also account for cloudiness.
Re: Infection or just a poor brew??
Infection just thrown 22 litres away for the same problem
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Re: Infection or just a poor brew??
You see, that’s why I was unsure if it’s infected, it’s not so bad I’d throw it away.
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- Hollow Legs
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Re: Infection or just a poor brew??
If you don't dry hop heavily usually, it can drop the pH a few points so might feel more acidic. Always hard to say without brewing water modification, but if it's manky it'll probably come through in a few weeks.
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Re: Infection or just a poor brew??
Rob, manky... is that a Midlands term? I’m from your neck of the woods originally and still have family over your way. Didn’t you do a Keystone Brew a few years ago?
- Jocky
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Re: Infection or just a poor brew??
I'd vote for a low level lactobacillus infection.
Ingredients: Water, Barley, Hops, Yeast, Seaweed, Blood, Sweat, The swim bladder of a sturgeon, My enemies tears, Scenes of mild peril, An otter's handbag and Riboflavin.
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Re: Infection or just a poor brew??
Hahah, must be, like Gambole!Paddington wrote: ↑Thu Jun 28, 2018 9:22 amRob, manky... is that a Midlands term? I’m from your neck of the woods originally and still have family over your way. Didn’t you do a Keystone Brew a few years ago?
That's the other Weatheroak... we're Weatheroak Hill. They moved out and this started up in the same building to supply the pub. Confusing eh!
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Re: Infection or just a poor brew??
yes, that clears it up nicely...Robwalkeragain wrote: ↑Thu Jun 28, 2018 1:31 pmHahah, must be, like Gambole!Paddington wrote: ↑Thu Jun 28, 2018 9:22 amRob, manky... is that a Midlands term? I’m from your neck of the woods originally and still have family over your way. Didn’t you do a Keystone Brew a few years ago?
That's the other Weatheroak... we're Weatheroak Hill. They moved out and this started up in the same building to supply the pub. Confusing eh!
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Re: Infection or just a poor brew??
Well, Rob, I’ve been drinking these pretty quickly expecting the infection to get worse but after a week off, they’re a touch clearer. I shared a few out at a barbecue and there were no complaints. Which means that now they’re improving, I’ve only got two left.Robwalkeragain wrote: ↑Wed Jun 27, 2018 8:41 amIf you don't dry hop heavily usually, it can drop the pH a few points so might feel more acidic. Always hard to say without brewing water modification, but if it's manky it'll probably come through in a few weeks.