Another "Did I ruin it" question

cmoewes · Apr 1, 2014

or... should I just chill out.

On Saturday, to make room in my fermentation chamber I transferred my porter to a secondary and placed it next to my chamber. I covered it, and it was going to sit another week or so before bottling.

Somewhere along the way someone removed the blanket that was covering it (I won't say who, but they are either 3 or 7 years old) and so it say unprotected from the light.

Where it is sitting it is indirectly exposed to light from an egress window which is under our carport, so no direct light, at most diffused ambient light.

I know it tasted good when I transferred it. If I take a sample will I be able to tell right away if it has gotten skunky? I brewed this for a special occasion so I am wondering if I should re-brew the batch.

I know without checking it none of you can tell me the right course of action, but I'm hoping for some suggestions on what to check and what to look for.

As always, thanks for your sage advice.

brew_ny · Apr 1, 2014

I have no sage advice

but I would not worry about it at all

all the best

S_M

flars · Apr 1, 2014

There is two things you can do:
1. Take a hydrometer sample and taste the beer. Might take two samples to check for off flavor.
2. Get a small cabinet, plastic or metal, that you can secure a fermentor away from small hands.

You are probably okay with only indirect light and no other source close to the fermentor.

boydster · Apr 1, 2014

It's probably not ruined. That said, if it did go skunky, you will be able to tell immediately when you smell or taste it. I brought a hoppy beer outside last week while I was brewing, and I could smell the skunkiness in less than a minute. That was a light-colored beer with lots of late hops in direct sunlight, though.