Black sludge in kit brew I made

[pappyon]

I have just finished bottling a batch of beer made with a reputable kit which I have used many times.

When I was bottling my latest brew I could not believe my eyes when I saw odious-looking pieces of black sludge clinging to the inside of and also on the bottom of the container.

Can anybody please tell me what this is and what caused it to happen. I have never experienced anything like this before!

[mctoon]

No idea,,, could be drowned baby slugs?,,, what are u brewing?

[Ditch]

By " The Container ", I take it ye mean the Fermentation Vessel?

If so, don't ye think it's likely just some of what ye put in there, and which didn't get fully dissolved, for what ever reason?

[pappyon]

I don't know about slugs getting into the wort, but I made the brew in the same way and with the same ingredients as normal, namely 1.8Kilo of Brewmaker Victorian Bitter and .750 Kilo of Budget bitter bought from Brewmart in Sheffield and 1 Kilo of white sugar.

Ditch might have a valid point!
I also added as usual 1tbspn of Burgess Gravy Browning to give the beer some colour. The only difference is that instead of adding it as formerly to the near boiling water I used to rinse out the cans I stirred it straight into the brew.

Before people gasp in astonishment I would emphasise that this is no more than burnt sugar.

I have been using this particular brand from ASDA for about a year now as I can no longer get the Crosse and Blackwell brand.

The beeer fermented out as normal with no signs of anything amiss till it came to the bottling stage.

My main concern is will the beer be safe to drink? I wouldn't like to have to pour it down the drain

I would add that I have been making beer from kits constantly for 40 years and this has never happened before! This is why I can't understand it

[BlackBag]

Mark this moment.
I am lost for words

[Toad]

[Normski]

It does start to sound like you've got Lumpy Gravy, It'll probably be ok to drink, but you may need some Yorkshire Puds to go with it!.

[pappyon]

I have done some reading up about the ingredients in this Burgess gravy browning, which incidently I have only used 3 times and not for a year.

It contains a product that is not in the Crosse and Blackwell gravy browning which I have used for many years, but now cannot get. This product is called Xanthan gum and one of its uses is for the gloop they use on these kids shows where they have it thrown all over them.

It is also produced in cauliflower and other vegetables when they go mouldy.

Anybody give me any other ideas for darkening my brews as i won't be using the Burgess gravy browning again

[BlackBag]

I came in from working the other night feeling a bit worn out. My tea wasn't on the table so I punched my wife in the face. By the following morning her eye was a lovely dark colour. You could try fisting your ale it should be wet enough.

[mat69]

[pappyon]

Blackbag
I would like to know what you are gibbering about in your last post. You are about as useful as a chocolate teapot!

[Benson_JV]

Blackbag
I would like to know what you are gibbering about in your last post. You are about as useful as a chocolate teapot!

What do you expect on a homebrew forum where everyone here has access to copious amounts of beer?

[pauljmuk]

I'm just a bit confused as to why you feel the need to add browning to a beer kit - surely if you are making a kit, pure and simple it will come out the colour the kit beer is supposed to be?

If you want it darker, replace sugars with dark spraymalt - you can get spray in light, medium, dark and extra dark

[Ditch]

Ditch might have a valid point!
I also added as usual 1tbspn of Burgess Gravy Browning to give the beer some colour. The only difference is that instead of adding it as formerly to the near boiling water I used to rinse out the cans I stirred it straight into the brew.

Before people gasp in astonishment I would emphasise that this is no more than burnt sugar.

Now the Dog can see the rabbit! I happen to make gravy just about every night of the week. Bisto powder, in my case. Because I realised the granules are twice the price and no easier.

Saying that; It's a fine art and one I'm yet to master. Bisto powder (probably much like any other?) needs Cold water poured on it. Then ye beat the living crap out of it with a spoon. (Why am I thinking of BB's wife?!) But ye Then have to add Hot water, still stirring like a man possessed.

Deviate from that, or get it wrong? Result is " Black Slugs ". I make my gravy in my tea mug. I'm always extra careful to examine the mug afterwards, because I've sometimes washed out slugs that could choke a man. As it is, they blocked my sink!

So, there's ye self provided answer: It's the gravy.


Never knew gravy was burned sugar. I thought that made harsh toffee.

[Brupert]

Wowser Ditch, you are not only a brewing, but also a culinary legend. Bravo.