I had a coopers IPA kit and started it three weeks ago. Standard beer kit and I've made beer once before with this equipment, so it should be fine.
I did three things differently from the instructions. First, I used 19 litres of water instead of 23. Secondly, I tossed in a teaspoonful of yeast energizer. Lastly, the kit said to dry-pitch the yeast, but I decided to start the yeast in water to be sure it was live. (It'd been stored in rather too warm conditions). It bubbled satisfactorily, so I pitched it.
I got a little fermentation for a few days and then it stopped. I added some bread yeast. That didn't create any fermentation. The airlock then stayed dead for two weeks.
There's some gunk on the carboy above the beer line. Not sure when that appeared.
I opened it this morning and it smelled fine - not "off". There was some stuff floating on the top and it looked exactly like dead yeast. The SG is 1.08 right now. I didn't measure the SG at the start because it was a beer kit - I assumed it didn't matter.
I guess I somehow contaminated the yeast and it won't move now.
Should I throw it away?
Thanks!
I did three things differently from the instructions. First, I used 19 litres of water instead of 23. Secondly, I tossed in a teaspoonful of yeast energizer. Lastly, the kit said to dry-pitch the yeast, but I decided to start the yeast in water to be sure it was live. (It'd been stored in rather too warm conditions). It bubbled satisfactorily, so I pitched it.
I got a little fermentation for a few days and then it stopped. I added some bread yeast. That didn't create any fermentation. The airlock then stayed dead for two weeks.
There's some gunk on the carboy above the beer line. Not sure when that appeared.
I opened it this morning and it smelled fine - not "off". There was some stuff floating on the top and it looked exactly like dead yeast. The SG is 1.08 right now. I didn't measure the SG at the start because it was a beer kit - I assumed it didn't matter.
I guess I somehow contaminated the yeast and it won't move now.
Should I throw it away?
Thanks!