neumann
Well-Known Member
Last night I started my 2nd batch of beer which was also the first batch I've done in a full boil. I started it too late and by the time I was pouring the boiling wort into fermenter it was 11:30 pm (half an hour past my bed time, mind you). I don't have a wort chiller and my sink isn't big enough for a 6 gallon bucket and ice water so I wrapped the bucket in a wet towel and set a couple of fans to blow on it hoping it would cool down at a reasonable speed. No dice... I finally went to bed at 12:30a and set an alarm for 1:30a. Woke up, checked the temp, set another alarm for an hour later and repeated. At 3:30a the wort was about 98-100 degrees so I pitched the yeast and went back to bed.
This morning I've got plenty of activity, so there is one concern (that I had pitched too hot) alleviated. But what are the odds that in the 4 hours between boil and pitch, I picked up some nasty bacteria? Is there any way I can check the quality of my beer or do anything to mitigate the damage the bacteria does to my brew? If not, and I am infected, how bad is it going to make my beer?
Before I get any lectures on the need for fast cooling, I fully intend to build a wort cooler (my local brew store wanted more than $100 for a cooler!!!) before I begin my next batch.
This morning I've got plenty of activity, so there is one concern (that I had pitched too hot) alleviated. But what are the odds that in the 4 hours between boil and pitch, I picked up some nasty bacteria? Is there any way I can check the quality of my beer or do anything to mitigate the damage the bacteria does to my brew? If not, and I am infected, how bad is it going to make my beer?
Before I get any lectures on the need for fast cooling, I fully intend to build a wort cooler (my local brew store wanted more than $100 for a cooler!!!) before I begin my next batch.