Infected brown ale.. Can someone advise (pic)

[awarner322]

I know this gets asked a lot... But I'll be that guy. Pulled off the lid off my brown ale to find this. Can someone give advice on if they would dump or keg? I'm not too worried about losing the beer. I have a pretty big inventory right now. I'd be more worried about further contaminating the rest of my equipment (keg, lines, siphon,etc.) Thanks!

 

[MaxStout]

Not all pellicles are an indication the beer is bad. It could be some wild yeast that got in, which could be good or bad. Carefully draw a sample and taste. If it's tastes OK, you could package it (but drink it up soon).

OTOH, you mentioned not being worried about dumping and wanting to prevent infection of future batches. That might be the better long-run solution. Dump, then bleach-bomb anything that beer has touched, or replace the bucket.

 

[FloppyKnockers]

^^ What he said.

 

[bronzdragon]

I wouldn't drink anything with a colony like that on it. As was mentioned earlier, I would dump and clean/disinfect everything. Good luck.

/cheers

 

[shanecb]

Honestly it could potentially turn out fine, but obviously different than you originally intended. I've had an infection with that exact same looking pellicle before and it developed some really interesting flavors. It's already in there... so may as well sit on it a bit and see what happens. But definitely clean and disinfect the heck out of anything that touches it. Cheers!

 

[Toga]

I'd let it ride. The bucket is already ready for the trash pile, making vinegar, or sour beers in the future. If you keep it and keg it after a month or 3 the worst thing you are looking at is a new siphon w/tubing and o rings for the keg you put it in. Best case it turns out awesome and you now have a seperate fermenter and siphon to use if you want to funk up a batch with lacto and or brett or just want to start making tasty malt vinegar at home.

 

[deadwolfbones]

I wouldn't drink anything with a colony like that on it. As was mentioned earlier, I would dump and clean/disinfect everything. Good luck.

/cheers

Why ever not? I made a beautiful sour stout with Roselare and dregs from various sours that had a pellicle almost exactly like that.

 

[bronzdragon]

Well, mainly, I don't like and don't brew sours. My statement was made because I would rather toss something out then risk getting sick off of drinking something that could possibly be good. If that's what you like, go for it. /cheers