Fly in my FV - will the brew be ruined?

[Cider Rich]

Hello all,
I'm currently five days into my first ever brew, it's a Brew Buddy cider kit, all going well until I checked it this evening and damn it - a fly has got into the FV and floating dead on the top!! I can't believe it, I had the lid cracked open only a tiny bit and a tea total draped over the top and the bugger still got in!

Will my brew now be ruined? Will the fly introduce bad bacteria and make it go off?

Also, please could I have some tips on how to take a trial jars worth of cider so I can test with the hydrometer? Is it ok just to dip it in and take the sample? Does the trial jar need to be sterilised? What about hands, will they introduce bacteria as well if coming into contact with the brew?

Thanks
Rich

[welshbrew83]

Hi Rich

Im no expert on this but i would generally assume that a fly that is dead on-top of something wont do it any favours!

[Jymbo]

If you're five days into the fermentation then I'd imagine that most of the sugar has turned to alcohol. This might be enough to ward off any infection - but the real answer is that you'll just have to wait and see - you'll know within a day or two by tasting it if it's off or not.

Also, you should really sterilise anything that you're going to dip into the FV.

[stevepostie]

Im new to brewing. Im doing the same brew as you mate! minus the fly.
I hope your cider turns out ok for you

[rick_huggins]

Just add "more" raisins and set a trend!

[Cider Rich]

If fermenation is underway as it sounds like it is, it will probably be ok, particularly with cider.

Regarding trial jars, the best way to fill them is from a tap fitted to the fermenter, in the absense of a tap a wine theif is very handy, as is a turkey baster, you can get the latter from most supermarkets.

If you don't have either then you can use a jug to scoop out some cider without having to risk dipping your fingers in but anything you get into contact with the cider must be sanitised an rinsed.

Things like trial jars, wine theives and turket basters etc can be kept in a bucket of thin bleach (10ml/L) while there's a brew on the go so all you have to do is rinse the item under the tap before and after putting it into the beer/wine/cider.

Ok thanks Chris-X1 I'm hopeful it's gonna be ok! Fermentation (I think) is well underway as the amount of bubbles have reduced over the last day or so. Thanks for the tips on how to get a sample, the turkey baster sounds like a sound investment, i will get one tomorrow as I will need to start checking the SG soon.

Im new to brewing. Im doing the same brew as you mate! minus the fly.
I hope your cider turns out ok for you

Yes I hope it will be ok too! I dont want to be drinking Flyder!!
I see you are going for the stronger strength brew option, and I've seen your posts re bottling. For info, I'm gonna wait for 998 SG before i bottle. Let us know how you get on! Cheers Rich

[stevepostie]

Yes I hope it will be ok too! I dont want to be drinking Flyder!!

I see you are going for the stronger strength brew option, and I've seen your posts re bottling. For info, I'm gonna wait for 998 SG before i bottle. Let us know how you get on! Cheers Rich

No problem will let you know. I have left it alone tonight and im gonna do another SG reading tomorrow.

[chopperswookie]

just be careful if you start supping it you start twitching like jeff goldblum and have a flavour for raw sugar

[Ditch]

A fly has got into the FV and floating dead on the top!!

Nothing wrong with a little added body

[Mogwyth]

One fly!! That's nothing you ought to have seen what was on the nettles I used for my nettle an ginger brew