I've done 10 batches now and the first 7 were good to very tasty. Batches 8 and 9 turned into fizzy sour vinegar and the jury is still out on batch 10. Batches 1 through 7 I used smack packs, some with starters. The last 3 have been dried yeast with no starter. I think that the source of my contamination has been the scissors that I used to cut open the dry yeast pack with...or the yeast package itself. I didn't sanitize either of them.
Its extremely frustrating. These have all been all grain batches and a considerable time investment considering I have small kids. The success of my first batches has encouraged me to plod forward and learn from mistakes, but I can understand why people give up.
Its extremely frustrating. These have all been all grain batches and a considerable time investment considering I have small kids. The success of my first batches has encouraged me to plod forward and learn from mistakes, but I can understand why people give up.