Do I have an infection?

[Achilles_001]

Hi all, somewhat novice brewer here. I recently brewed a small batch am american wheat beer and noticed some some white stuff floating on top when opened the container to bottle. I know wheat beers have a higher cloudiness to them, more proteins, so I am hoping that is what this is, or possible debris. I used safbrew WB-06, if that is any help. I tasted a small sample and it doesn't seem to have anything horrible in it. Any help would be appreciated.

 

[SteveHeff]

Looks like yeast. How long has this been fermenting?

 

[Achilles_001]

Thanks a lot for you input Steve, I didn't do a secondary so it has been in the primary bucket for 3 weeks. I've done 3 brews so far and never has anything floating on the top like this before.

 

[CU_tony]

Better yet, how does it smell/taste?
I havent had a batch look like that at bottling time, but each batch also has looked a little different thus far..

I'd smell it, if it doesnt smell like death, taste it, if it doesnt taste bad, bottle it!

 

[Achilles_001]

Well, the smell itself is hard to describe. I'm using a 6 gallon bucket for a 3 gallon batch, not sure if the headspace makes a difference, but it smelled a little acidic. The sample doesn't have any acid smell to it and tastes acceptable (as far as non bottle conditioned, flat, warm beer goes).

I was hoping to attempt yeast washing with this batch but, if it's infected, I don't want to risk it.

 

[Rockn_M]

Looks normal to me.

 

[CU_tony]

Yeast washing is so easy I would give it a shot.
Save your washed yeast for a week or two, try a bottled beer and if acceptable I would personally use that collected yeast.

 

[ThatVideoKid]

It just look like yeast rafts. My recent saison with 3711 had the same thing going on.