First "dumper" ever

[McCall St. Brewer]

I've been brewing for 3 years now and today I had to dump my first 5 gal. batch ever. I've had some klunkers before, but never anything I had to throw out.

This batch, though, was a different story. I knew there was something seriously wrong when I transferred to the secondary. It tasted like, well, wort. I decided to let it sit for awhile, though, to see if it might improve. I let it sit for what I will charitably call "awhile," but when I checked it today it looked like it had sheets of soggy newspaper floating on top. When I poured it out it smelled like un-fermented wort.

I don't think it was an infection. My subsequent batches seem fine. For some reason, though, that batch just didnt' turn into beer. I don't know if it was too cold in my cellar over the winter, or what happened. Thankfully I have never had that happen before or since. Too bad, though. Five gallons is a lot to have to kiss good bye.

 

[the_bird]

... a moment of silence for those who have fallen...







Had you ever taken a gravity reading, either when you racked it or before you dumped?

 

[McCall St. Brewer]

... a moment of silence for those who have fallen...







Had you ever taken a gravity reading, either when you racked it or before you dumped?

Actually, no. I believe I was sans hydrometer at the time. If I recall, though, it looked like a normal ferment. I think I made it during the winter, which, of course was a very long, cold one here. I suppose it's possible my basement was too cold for the yeast I used. I think I was trying to make some Ed's Haus Pale, but my LHBS didn't have the right yeast, so I used something else. I will have to look back at my records to see what it was.

 

[tdavisii]

Gone but not forgoten.

 

[McCall St. Brewer]

Thank you very much for your sympathy. I considered taking a couple of days off from work, but have decided that would not be appropriate. After all, there is more beer in the world. Heck, I even have more beer right here at home that I can drink. So, I did go through a couple of rough moments there, but I think I may be over it now. It would have been worse, though, without all of your support.