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eastoftherivernile · 12-09-2012, 01:33 PM

Hi All,

Just on my first brew (making a stout from a kit) and after 20 hours fermentation with only brewing sugar I decided to add some spray malt. It seemed ok at first but then *whoosh* suddenly it all goes up. My kitchen is now covered in yeasty sugary foam and I'm wondering whether I've wrecked my first batch of home brew?

For extra info I seem to have lost around 2l out of a starting volume of 23l. The ferment had started with around 3cm brownish foam on top of the brew. I am also pretty confident that nothing untoward should have entered the brew as there was so much coming out!

So, er...what did I do wrong and what can I do now?

Thanks in advance!

**neosapien** · 12-09-2012, 01:36 PM

lol, no you didn't ruin it. and you did nothing wrong. that was just a vigorous, healthy fermentation. you might consider running a blow-off tube out of your bucket/carboy instead of an airlock. that brown foam is krausen and is natural part of making beer.

boscobeans · 12-09-2012, 01:46 PM

How did you add it?

Was it like the Mentos in a bottle of soda, where all the CO2 is released at once?

bosco

**unionrdr** · 12-09-2012, 01:48 PM

That's what I though too. Adding dry DME would create nucleation points & boom.

eastoftherivernile · 12-09-2012, 01:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by neosapien

lol, no you didn't ruin it. and you did nothing wrong. that was just a vigorous, healthy fermentation. you might consider running a blow-off tube out of your bucket/carboy instead of an airlock. that brown foam is krausen and is natural part of making beer.

Phew! It seems to have settled down now, just have to wipe down the kitchen before the wife sees it and all will be back on track!

Quote:

Originally Posted by boscobeans

How did you add it?

Was it like the Mentos in a bottle of soda, where all the CO2 is released at once?

bosco

I added around 400g of Muntons spray malt and gave it a stir. Yes, Mentos in coke would be about right!

**unionrdr** · 12-09-2012, 02:13 PM

That'd do it. And so you know,1 pound = 454g. Adding it dry creates nucleation points for the dissolved co2...boom.

eastoftherivernile · 12-09-2012, 02:55 PM

Thanks man, you live and learn I guess!

frazier · 12-09-2012, 03:02 PM

And why exactly did you add the Mentos - er, I mean the DME. I'm a big believer in sticking to the recipe. Make your modifications BEFORE brewday, not after.

Cheers!

eastoftherivernile · 12-09-2012, 03:58 PM

In fact they were on the recipe (or rather an acceptable variation thereof) I just forgot to add them initially. My rationale for adding them at +20hrs was to reduce the impact of any contaminant introduced. I figured the yeast would have multiplied and become the dominant organism by that time!

eastoftherivernile · 12-09-2012, 03:58 PM

But yes, sticking to the recipe is usually a good idea!