Question on hygenie - Have I cocked up ?

[Waffty]

Kicked off my Brewferm Abbey last night, went for a double kit, with 1Kg of candi sugar etc, everything was going to plan, until I noticed it was leaking via the FV tap

Not having a spare vessel, I took the risk, tipped the FV on it's side & put my hand in to tighten it up. I did give my hand/arm a good scrub first + it had been in and out of my cleaning solution for most of the evening but I did make contact with the Wort + obviousley the tap itself

So what do you think are my chances of getting a good brew are or am I looking at 18L of vinegar

On a plus note, I've got an ATC800, connected to my flash cooler & one of those large square 25L FV sized heaters, which both worked perfectly to get the temp just right & the brew was going like a train i.e bubbles galore

[Madbrewer]

I wouldn't ditch the brew just yet. It's a matter of 'chance' i.e. what's he chances you infected the brew with enough bacteria to sour it? ... the fermented beer with co2 is not a paradise for every bacterium out there, at the same time it's not something I would do either. I have heard accounts of both people doing what you did and getting away with it and those that didn't get away with it.

Good Luck

[Bryggmester]

I wouldn't worry too much at this stage. I have had to plunge my arm into a barrel to tighten a leaking tap and the beer didn't suffer at all. Others have similar stories.

[bevanjon74]

Had the same problem with a leaky FV on my recent youngs lager brew... did exactly the same as you, scrubbed up and got stuck in - I had no other fermenter to put it in, and otherwise there would have been 23 litres of lager on the floor in no time!!!

my brew had no ill effects from it.. I think its like they say - luck of the draw.. but sometimes needs must -
I'll keep em crossed for you

[Waffty]

Thanks for your replies, with a bit of luck it will be ok if not, I'll have learn't an expensive lesson i.e check & double check for leaks BEFORE committing your brew to the FV

Darren.

[Ditch]

check & double check for leaks BEFORE committing your brew to the FV #

Personally, I think that's not a bad little tip for us all to keep in mind, Darren. Most certainly so in the case of a new and unused piece of kit.

I favour Budget Kegs and they have 2" necks. Next one I get, I think I'll fill it with tap water and give it a blast of CO2. One never knows!

If I ever filled a new one with Coopers Irish Stout, only to have to stand there and watch it pissing out of a faulty tap?! Well ....!

[Waffty]

Ok foks, checked the FG as the bubbles had stopped & it was 1018, which is 8 point off the recommend finish but since it's OG was 1073, I gave it a gentle swirl but two days after it hadn't moved, so I dropped it into the keg with 200g of sugar & bish bosh, the keg pressure had risen 5psi. So like my Xmas brew, it looks like it just ran out of fermentables again (1Kg candi sugar & 200g of sugar + the two tins of extract).

Anyways, the good news was that it didn't smell off & whilst the taste was still a little harsh (needs 6 to 8 weeks) it wasn't off or that unpleasant, so fingers crossed, I got away with it

Got another couple of kits to do before Christmas, so will make sure the tap is fitted correctly this time around

Thanks again for your help/support.
Darren

[Waffty]

Tried my Abbey last night & I have to say, it's nothing short of excellent, which can only get better the longer it's been in the keg.

If you're looking for an Xmas beer, then get yourself an Abbey & make it up with Candi sugar (I made up two kits together).

[bevanjon74]

Waffty, my lager that I put my arm in was excellent too... Perhaps we have found a new way of improving the taste of kits - but sticking our arms in the fermenter!!!