What's in my beer???

DasSchlebach · 12-19-2011, 07:17 PM

I need help identifying what this is. I'm referring to what appears to be a soap looking film across the top of my beer. I have a hunch it might be from my tap water as brewed this batch with water straight from my kitchen sink. Perhaps the minerals and slight notes of chlorine? I drink the water all the time without a second thought but if its gonna do this to my beer...i don't know anymore.

Note this is also my first batch of home brew ever. It taste good to me but this presentation definitely makes me worry something may be off that I am unaware of. I used an Irish Red Ale extract kit from NB.

**ElevenBrewCo** · 12-19-2011, 07:30 PM

im pretty sure star san can leave a oily looking film...ive had plenty of beers with that on it....just randomly shows up....if it smells good, and tastes good, i wouldnt worry...

**Brewnoob1** · 12-19-2011, 07:34 PM

Mine did that and it was just a co2 bubble pattern. Really small bubbles anyways...but nothing to worry. What was your process?

**ElevenBrewCo** · 12-19-2011, 07:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brewnoob1

Mine did that and it was just a co2 bubble pattern. Really small bubbles anyways...but nothing to worry. What was your process?

look closer...he is talking about that funny looking film in the center...looks like oily film

**509inc** · 12-19-2011, 07:45 PM

From that pic I'd be more concerned about drinking flat beer with no head retention. I agree with brewnoob1 just looks like really small bubbles.

DasSchlebach · 12-20-2011, 05:39 AM

It's more of an oil slick film. I popped open a bottle early, that's why there's no head, but overall I'm pleased with the taste and smell, I'm just displeased with this oil slick across my glass...hopefully it doesn't show up in the next batch.

Thirstin4aburstin · 12-20-2011, 01:50 PM

How did you clean your bottles prior to bottling? Did you use the dish washer with detergent? If you did then maybe the rinse didn't do a good enough job and there's still some soap on the inside of the bottle. This would kill your head retention and leave that oily film. It's not recommended to use the dishwasher to clean bottles and even the glass you'll be drinking it out of because of this problem.

iheartcraftbeer · 12-20-2011, 03:46 PM

Did you try using a different glass, and rinsing the glass out with cold water before pouring the beer? Maybe that glass just had soap residue in it. I would try that before jumping to any conclusions about the beer itself.

**Xaphoeous** · 12-20-2011, 04:36 PM

I know it's your first brew and that you're excited to open a bottle, but you'll really do yourself a favor to wait 3 weeks before opening the fist bottle. Give the beer time to carbonate and condition a bit.

I agree that it looks like a residue issue. When you open the next bottle, use a glass that is clean. Clean the glass with salt or another method like those found in this thread .

Pour half the beer in the freshly cleaned glass and half in a glass from the cupboard. If the film is in both glasses, it's a beer issue. If it's only in the cupboard glass, it's a residue from your dish detergent.

**SenorPepe** · 12-20-2011, 04:52 PM

Wow, awesome. Thanks for re-posting that Xaphoeous. My girlfriend is always forgetting to leave the beer glasses aside and now I can fix it easily.