Help...bad beer?

I attached some photos of my beer. I was making a brown ale and it never really took off. Its been sitting in the carboy for about a month now. It smells great (hoppy) but I'm afraid to bottle and drink it. Let me know if anyone has had anything happen like this. As you can see, I forgot to strain it at first...those are grains and a couple hops. I shook it up and put a heater beside it and its bubbling every 5 or 6 seconds now...what should I do?
Thanks
Bobby

It doesn't look super abnormal to me; a bit more junk floating on top is all... The only way to know for sure if it is ready to bottle is by taking gravity readings.

Are you sure you didn't just miss the violent fermentation? I looks like a decent amount of yeast has flocculated to the bottom. How does it taste?

I really haven't had much of a desire to taste it...especially if the wrong thing has got into it. And especially with that scum on the top. Would you suggest I try it?

Taste it.

Even Sam likes his green eggs and ham.

Alembician said:

I shook it up and put a heater beside it and its bubbling every 5 or 6 seconds now...what should I do?

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Was this after it had been sitting in the carboy for a month?

ya... :-/ I didn't think about heat until today.

You really need to pull a sample and taste it. There is nothing in there that is going to kill you. If it is bad you will know it and can dump it but I'm betting it tastes just fine.

Ok. Thanks everyone.

NEVER EVER EVER give up on your beer based on the appearance in the carboy. ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS taste it at every opportunity (before the boil, after the boil, each hydrometer sample, etc). You'll be surprised at how much you learn...and at how much appearance can be deceiving.

Even at its best, fermentation is an ugly process. So, check the gravity & taste the sample.

Yeah, don't EVER show your friends what it looks like fermenting or they'll never drink it. It's like asking someone to eat a burger after a slaughterhouse tour.

Rdwhab!!
Jj

jaybird said:

Rdwhab!!

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Could not have said it better myself.

Dang, I voted wrong....I was gonna say give it to your enemies......I'll be your enemy for some free beer......j/k

Have a bottle, if you go blind stop and consult a doctor.

Craig5_12 said:

Dang, I voted wrong....I was gonna say give it to your enemies......I'll be your enemy for some free beer......j/k

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Same here! I'll even pay for shipping.

What's the problem?
Whats the gravity? I guessing its done.
Whats it taste like? I guessing pretty good.
Bottle it and enjoy.
Craig

Looks exactly like it should to me, not sure why you're concerned, especially if it smells fine. I say taste it, bottle it, and drink it.

Thanks for all the help/reassurance guys. This was my first batch and after I didn't see it bubbling I just got kinda worried. Also, that crazy sludge didn't do much for my hopes either. I took a specific gravity reading and its almost done. I'm going to let it sit for a day or two then bottle it. I tasted it and its really pretty darn good! A little hoppy but I like it. Thanks again everyone
Bobby

Haha, the first brew paranoia. Love it. FYI there will always be sludge. Sludge is your friend! (most of the time)

Looks fine to me. Some cold break floating around on top and loads of flocculated yeast at the bottom - that's the stuff you don't put in the bottles!

Here is one of mine - probably the best batch I've made so far:



..and here's the junk I didn't bottle - this is normal - RDWHAHB

If you give it a slight rocking back and forth a lot of that might fall out. My Kolsch-style beer looke a lot like that, gave it rock and all of that fell to the bottom.