robbyg
Well-Known Member
I'm not entirely a beginner -- this was my 52nd beer -- but this problem is a first for me.
I brewed a Cali Common, tested it prior to a dry hop around week 2, removed the hops at week 3, and then tested it again at week 5 when I went to keg. At week 2 it was a balanced beer with a slight malt aroma, exactly what I expected. At week 5, it is now a sour beer.
My assumption is I didn't sufficiently sanitize my hop bag before dry hopping, thus leading to an infection... but my REAL question is this: can I consider this beer safe to serve? I was planning to serve it in four weeks or so at a homebrew event.
I taste-tested the beer, and while it is decidedly sour, it's not unpleasantly so. Since this wasn't intended, I'm classifying it as an infection, but I don't know how worried I should be. I frankly enjoyed the flavor, once I stopped freaking out over the difference from the beer I expected. It's not unlike a New Belgium La Folie, if that helps (minus the multi-year aging, obviously).
And a second question -- can I reuse this brew bucket, presuming I wash and sanitize appropriately? Or should I toss it?
Thanks in advance for your insight!
I brewed a Cali Common, tested it prior to a dry hop around week 2, removed the hops at week 3, and then tested it again at week 5 when I went to keg. At week 2 it was a balanced beer with a slight malt aroma, exactly what I expected. At week 5, it is now a sour beer.
My assumption is I didn't sufficiently sanitize my hop bag before dry hopping, thus leading to an infection... but my REAL question is this: can I consider this beer safe to serve? I was planning to serve it in four weeks or so at a homebrew event.
I taste-tested the beer, and while it is decidedly sour, it's not unpleasantly so. Since this wasn't intended, I'm classifying it as an infection, but I don't know how worried I should be. I frankly enjoyed the flavor, once I stopped freaking out over the difference from the beer I expected. It's not unlike a New Belgium La Folie, if that helps (minus the multi-year aging, obviously).
And a second question -- can I reuse this brew bucket, presuming I wash and sanitize appropriately? Or should I toss it?
Thanks in advance for your insight!