I didn't cover my carboy...?

[Boyd]

I forgot to cover my carboy while fermenting my smoked porter with basil. Is this going to mess it up?

 

[marubozo]

So, you didn't put an airlock or anything on it?

There's a good chance it will be just fine, but you also have a chance that some wild stuff made it in. There's no way to tell so you'll just have to go through with it and see how it turns out.

 

[rocketman768]

If it was exposed to sunlight, yes. It will be "skunked" and you will know the instant you taste it. Just take a sample and see.

 

[Boyd]

yes, it was exposed to sunlight, no i didn't forget to put the airlock on it

Although it was in a closet with the closet closed for the first few days of fermentation

 

[Oldyote]

The skunking is related to the hops. So it will depend somewhat on the amount of hops used and the amount of time exposed to sunlight. Just tell everyone its the basil.

 

[ajf]

It depends on how long it was exposed to the sunlight, how direct the sunlight was, and how much you like skunked beer.
Take a sniff. If it doesn't smell of skunk, you should be OK. If it does smell of skunk, then it depends on how objectionable you find it. I find skunked beer totally unacceptable, and throw it away. Some people seem to like it (or at least, tolerate it).

-a.

 

[marubozo]

Ahh. A protective sunlight cover. Yeah, depending on how direct the light was and for how long will dictate how skunked it will be, if at all. Again, if it wasn't sitting in front of a window being shined with 8 hours of direct sunlight each day and only received ambient daylight you may not notice much of an issue at all. But direct sunlight will definitely bring about some skunky flavors.

Fermenting in plastic buckets ftw.

 

[Hang Glider]

Porters are much less susceptible to skunking - the dark color doesn't let much light penetrate very far. Light lagers are the worst, of course...

Now the basil might create some off flavors...

 

[Boyd]

it was about 6 ft from a north pointing window. Only exposed for a day or two, not in direct sunlight. The smell out of the airlock isn't bad.

 

[Got Trub?]

It's fine. RDWHAHB.

GT

 

[Boyd]

RDWHAHB.

que?

 

[rocketman768]

que?

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/wiki/index.php/Home_Brew_Acronyms#R

 

[Boyd]

ahhhh, i see