Down the sink

[Garth]

Just had to ditch the latest brew, Pops Stout, it fermented fairly well but failed to get down below 1025, not serious for a brew of this strength, but after I filled the bottles from the bottling bin, I had a smell of the dead yeast in the bottom of the primary and the vinegar stench nearly knocked me over.

I re-opened a few bottles and when pouring in the sink it did smell quite vinegary.

I believe the cause was those small flies, bit of a brown round body and tiny wings, I'd seen a few around the fv last week and thought I'd got rid of them.

I fermented this lot in the kitchen and not in the converted fridge as the cooler weather is here now.

Ah well, you can't win 'em all, that's the first one in 54 brews to go wrong. It's just disheartening to see all that beer go down the plughole.

[Horden Hillbilly]

I have been there myself on the odd occasion over the years, it is heartbreaking having to watch it dissapear down the plughole after making all the effort that an ag brew requires.

[Wez]

Thats sad news Garth only one thing for it......get the boiler on!

[Vossy1]

Not good G but still maintaining a good, good/bad ratio though

Time to drown your sorrows

[AT]

I have to dump my Chimay clone next week, it's rotten. Not infected just arse I feel your pain

[subsub]

Bloody shame that

[prodigal2]

All I can say Garth is, gutting.
But as you said 1 out of 54 is not too shabby odds, and as it seems to be that you know the cause of the problem. A lesson learned, not the best way to learn but at least you have beer in the house. If that is any consolation

[Garth]

thanks a lot lads, all of you, encouraging words

and hey, like you say, great ratio of good/bad, it had to happen sometime along the line

'get the boiler on' ....will do wez mate, just a week and I'll be set up in me new pad, well three days to be precise, can't wait....

on a connected note, has anyone thought of buying a one of those cheap fly electrocution things, to have around where you ferment, I've seen them in several breweries, we had one in the pizza shop I worked in years ago and boy did it fry some big f***ers, moths, wasps anything which got a bit too close to those alluring fluorescent bulbs....and zzzzzap, goodnight

[bitter_dave]

That's a pi$$er 0- I lost a batch earlier this year to infection I dropped the lid of the fermenter into the wort Those small flies have been a nightmare though this year

[delboy]

Sh*t one.

I have to dump my Chimay clone next week, it's rotten. Not infected just arse I feel your pain

Im looking to do a belgian AT where do you think you went wrong with it?

[Frothy]

I was lucky enough to be served a pint of vinegar earlier this year, apparently that's what real cider tastes like..... If you like I can find the blokes number and we can sell-off our dodgy batches it's special black cider honest guv'.

Frothy

[David Edge]

on a connected note, has anyone thought of buying a one of those cheap fly electrocution things, to have around where you ferment, I've seen them in several breweries,

I seem to recall reading - probably in New Scientist - that the problem is that they propel bacteria-laden lumps of fly all over the place. If you did use one it would be wise to keep the fermenter out of the line of fire.

[Garth]

they propel bacteria-laden lumps of fly all over the place.

Cheers David, glad I'd just finished me brekkie.

I saw one at Theakstons earlier this year, it was high up on a wall and I guess it was far enough away from their large open fermenters

[mixbrewery]

Bummer there Garth, and your recipe looked to be a belter.
Hope my stout is ok.

I thought about those bug zappers when browsing fleabay last month.
Hopefully the're only needed in the warmer months, (i nearly said summer there - ha, ha)

[AT]

Sh*t one.

I have to dump my Chimay clone next week, it's rotten. Not infected just arse I feel your pain

Im looking to do a belgian AT where do you think you went wrong with it?

The yeast starter didn't work so i used s04, that's all i can guess DB