I think I have an Infection

[ILBMF]

I did a 10 gallon batch of my IPA last Sunday and split it between two 6.5 gallon carboys. Today I uncovered them to rack them to secondaries and they had a broken up layer of what looked like pieces of semi solid, tan colored, wet felt or leather on top of the beer. The pieces looked kind of like yeast (1/16'' thick)or even mold (no hair) with slightly rounded peaks on the surface of the beer. Definitely semi solid, with folded or rounded, ribbon like folds that went below the surface of the beer in some spots.

I went ahead and racked both carboys and dry hopped the hell out of them as usual after getting a taste which seemed normal without any off flavors for a week old IPA straight from the primary. This was a ten gallon batch done with all grain and White Labs California ale yeast and a healthy, active starter. The only stupid thing I can think of that I did was top off the carboys with about a quart each with straight up tap water from my well water system (without a cleansing boil) If this is an infection I suspect that's why. We have had a lot of rain lately and I'm thinking the non boiled well water addition may have infected the beer.

Either way, this is the first time I've seen a broken up layer of semi-hard, tan weirdness on the top of any beer I've made. WHAT MY CHANCES OF DECENT BEER considering it's a 7.5% heavily hopped IPA and tastes ok at this point?
I'm considering getting a jump and doing another 10 gallons ASAP to keep the supply of conditioned beer on schedule.

 

[Clann]

Sounds like yeast. I'd brew that next 10 gal anyway

 

[ILBMF]

Well, I would hope it's yeast, but I've never seen this before. Usually there's maybe a small gathering of foam or small bubbles, but not this. I hope it's not a waste.

 

[pdxal]

Sounds like yeast, particularly since it tastes OK.
-Your thread title sounds funny, I almost expected gross bodily function pictures.

 

[ILBMF]

Well, there's already 3 ounces of hops in each secondary carboy so the money is spent. I'll just let them sit for 10-12 days and get another taste before kegging.

 

[frydogbrews]

Sounds like yeast, particularly since it tastes OK.
-Your thread title sounds funny, I almost expected gross bodily function pictures.

yeah, i was going to tell you to head over to clinic and pickup a tube of that magical cream.

sounds like yeast, an infection would take a little longer than that to cover the top as much as you are describing.
as with most things, it's all conjecture unless you post a picture.

 

[ILBMF]

I'm going to try to link a pic. The yellow/orange is just something sitting next to the carboy that looks like it could be inside, but it's not. I've never had yeast gather up top in a semi solid form like this in years of brewing. It is always on the bottom after a week.

http://s95.photobucket.com/albums/l143/anthony05gt/?action=view&current=100_0787.jpg

 

[overflow]

I'm going to try to link a pic. The yellow/orange is just something sitting next to the carboy that looks like it could be inside, but it's not. I've never had yeast gather up top in a semi solid form like this in years of brewing. It is always on the bottom after a week.

http://s95.photobucket.com/albums/l143/anthony05gt/?action=view&current=100_0787.jpg

Hate to break it to you, but you indeed have an infection. A yeast infection, that is

 

[frydogbrews]

i'd agree, i don't see any true pellicle there. probably not a problem. RDWHAHB

 

[ILBMF]

Yeah, I don't know...it wouldn't have been a big deal if I'd have seen something similar in the past. Have any of you had yeast up on top like this after a week in the primary?

 

[nelgig]

I think I have an Infection....That's what she said!

 

[pm5k00]

Does not look like infection to me, I've had yeast float like that before, it was a lesser amount, but yeast none the less. I think your IPA will be fine.

 

[ILBMF]

Thanks guys.

 

[overflow]

Yeah, I don't know...it wouldn't have been a big deal if I'd have seen something similar in the past. Have any of you had yeast up on top like this after a week in the primary?

Oh yeah. Nottingham is notorious for that kind of flocculation.

 

[wedge421]

Thats a bit strange looking but it doesnt look like an infection

 

[Mongrel]

Oh yeah. Nottingham is notorious for that kind of flocculation.

Yeah, I did a batch with Nottingham that still looked like that after a month. Ended up racking from under it.

 

[ILBMF]

That's what I did (rack from under it). I always use White Labs WLP001 Cal Ale yeast on my IPA and have never had any yeast float in 7 days. Maybe the yeast was mis-labled.

 

[Revvy]

I've seen chunks of yeast like that in beers before. It's just another one of the ten billion strange ways yeast looks when it's perfectly normal.

 

[ILBMF]

I've never had a bad batch of beer (knock on wood) so when I do, it will be new to me. The worst I had was a kegged IPA with a little weird off flavor from God knows what, but it was drinkable.

I'm glad this looks to be normal because I just switched over to a 10-15 gallon system from a 5 gallon set up and I thought I might have a doomed 10 gallons of my first 10 gallon batch. It's almost as bad as losing your wallet. You guys have been very helpful, thanks.