My first infection... what to do... keg? bottle?

Was about to keg my batch of Scotch Ale and i noticed a layer of something on top so i popped the top off since I am about to keg anyways. Gross! All 5 gallons (split between 2 mr beer fermentors) are infected.

If it doesn't taste too nasty and I want to keg it will it infect my keg system?

If it can't be kegged I will bottle it if it doesn't taste too bad. (I'm afraid to taste it) Otherwise I might have to dump. :'(

keg it. if you bottle, you might have some bombs. Whatever is growing there will keep eating the sugar in the beer if left at room temps.

So kegging an infection won't infect my beer line n keg?

It will until you clean it. Taste it first, if its un drinkable then you dont have to worry.

I can't get a glass without a few white flakes in it... it doesn't taste too bad but it doesn't taste good.

Do I have to throw out the fermentors too?

no, just clean twice as good and sterilize.

jgerard said:

Was about to keg my batch of Scotch Ale and i noticed a layer of something on top so i popped the top off since I am about to keg anyways. Gross! All 5 gallons (split between 2 mr beer fermentors) are infected.

If it doesn't taste too nasty and I want to keg it will it infect my keg system?

If it can't be kegged I will bottle it if it doesn't taste too bad. (I'm afraid to taste it) Otherwise I might have to dump. :'(

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Dump it - life's too short for bad beer.

any thoughts where infection came from?

I would bleach the **** out of all plastics. If it pops up again, toss all plastics.

I have no idea where the infection came from. Maybe I got too wreckless since I havee been brewing for about 2 yrs without infection.

But I agree with lifes too short for bad beer. Even if this beer doesn't taste too bad I will always picture the horrible white fuzzy layer on top, there's no way I could drink it or give it to a friend.

Do you partial boil & top off to get 5 gallons with unboiled tap water?

thargrav said:

Dump it - life's too short for bad beer.

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+1....its not going to recover and get better. It tastes bad now, it will taste bad later.

I do, and I've never had an issue with it but the house I moved into has drippy water and often grows mold in the sinks, so that could be it! Looks like I need to grab some gallon jugs.

or just boil it night before, cover and next day (brew day) - move it into your sanitized fermenter.
People obviously top off w unboiled water post boil, but I firmly believe that everyrhing post-boil that touches wort should be sanitized. Bottled water included. [puts flame suit on]. There have been ~100 recalls of dirty bottled water- it is not publized much.
anyways, good luck w your next batch!!