Beer has been in the primary pail for about 6 months...

[Kevin K]

Life kinda got in the way, and I wasn't able to brew for a while.
I discovered a gnarly red ale that has been in the primary pail for about 6 months now.
I pulled half a glass out and it's full of floaties - just confirming that I should pitch this batch.
The floaties look sort of like translucent flakes. The surface looks a little oily.

My gut tells me to pour it out, but a small part of me is hoping someone will tell me it can be rescued.

Any input?



Kevin

 

[BrianP]

General consensus will be not to pitch, just in case it's still ok.

Maybe try bottling a few, keeping the remainder safe, just in case. If after bottling, the batch is determined to be bad, no harm done, little effort expended. If crappy, pitch the rest.

 

[homebrewer_99]

If it's bad store it away and use it on your garden...

 

[Kevin K]

I think I'm gonna pitch it. The next two brews are going to be my first two on tap, don't want to waste a keg on a ****ty batch!

 

[Spyk'd]

I'm going to bet that it's bright orange and smells like rubber...


If not, TASTE it!

 

[Kevin K]

The last time I tasted a brew that I was unsure about, I spent the night on the can.

Not going to happen tonite.

 

[FlyingHorse]

The last time I tasted a brew that I was unsure about, I spent the night on the can.

Not going to happen tonite.

Then I gotta ask...why'd you post in the first place?

Seriously, if it smells OK and doesn't have anything growing on it, it's probably OK. Maybe not good, but not likely to do you any gastrointestinal harm.

 

[Spyk'd]

The last time I tasted a brew that I was unsure about, I spent the night on the can.

Not going to happen tonite.

Awe man, do it for...science, do it for....US!

 

[BrianP]

if kegging, probably pitch it. if bottling, a few for science's sake isn't that bad

 

[moger777]

It might taste soapy due to sitting on the yeast cake too long. You can always bottle it and use it as a "cooking" beer if it does not taste right.

 

[buraglio]

It might taste soapy due to sitting on the yeast cake too long. You can always bottle it and use it as a "cooking" beer if it does not taste right.

That is actually a really good idea. My wife used to use my more flavorful (and more expensive) beers to make beer bread, brats, etc. and now we keep a sixer of something inexpensive just for that.

nb