BarlimanButterbur
Well-Known Member
Argh!
I brewed a four gallon 1.080 batch of ale about 6 weeks ago. I was away for about the last two weeks. I returned to my apartment yesterday, I looked in the closet, and I was horrified to see that my airlock wasn't on my fermenter, and that there were some fruit flies hovering about.
I resanitized the airlock, and sealed it. I can't say how long it's been off. There have been some people checking in to catsit. They might have done it by accident, but I could have done it (somehow) before I left. I think it smells fine but I know that fruit flies can be a harbinger of vinegarization. I was planning to bottle soon anyways. I think I'm going to do that today. I know that fermentation was complete long before I left.
My hope is that the CO2 has maintained a nice blanket in the carboy, and that the fruit flies have stayed out.
Anyone have insights?
I brewed a four gallon 1.080 batch of ale about 6 weeks ago. I was away for about the last two weeks. I returned to my apartment yesterday, I looked in the closet, and I was horrified to see that my airlock wasn't on my fermenter, and that there were some fruit flies hovering about.
I resanitized the airlock, and sealed it. I can't say how long it's been off. There have been some people checking in to catsit. They might have done it by accident, but I could have done it (somehow) before I left. I think it smells fine but I know that fruit flies can be a harbinger of vinegarization. I was planning to bottle soon anyways. I think I'm going to do that today. I know that fermentation was complete long before I left.
My hope is that the CO2 has maintained a nice blanket in the carboy, and that the fruit flies have stayed out.
Anyone have insights?