Is this Krausen normal or am I in trouble?

[HomebrewerBen]

Hi guys,

Just brewed my first ever batch (Hefe - extract), and although I feel I had everything super sanitized I'm concerned with the black spots on my Krausen. Just wondering if this looks normal or if it could be mold? Any insight would be much appreciated! Sorry the pics are sideways

 

[Dcpcooks]

It's fine!

 

[Mainer]

Looks normal to me. There's a possibility some of that black stuff could be caramelized sugar that got a little too hot at the bottom of your kettle? Was the kit extract liquid, by chance? It could also just be 100% normal collections of proteins and yeast matter.
Either way, it doesn't have the look of an infection. I wouldn't sweat it.

 

[Revvy]

All fermentations are ugly, and stinky, and often random depending on yeast strain and grainbills.... There really is not such a thing as a krausen that would be an indication of an infection. Chunky, foamy, anything you can think of a "normal" krausen could and will look like.... There's never a point in getting freaked out by how a yeast forms on top of your beer.

Infections from Pellicles... "Skins" on top. They look nothing like the ugliest krausen you could imagine.

This is what a pellicle looks like.

 

[HomebrewerBen]

Thanks to all 3 of you for your responses and input. I'm sure I'll learn more about what to expect as I brew more. @Revvy, the pellicle picture looks gnarly, glad I don't have that happening. ��

 

[Revvy]

Thanks to all 3 of you for your responses and input. I'm sure I'll learn more about what to expect as I brew more. @Revvy, the pellicle picture looks gnarly, glad I don't have that happening. ��

You want it if you're making a Flander's Red or other sour beer.....under that is AWESOMENESS.... I just bottled one that had something similar.... twice... once when I added the "bugs" to the finished beer, and again 6 months later when I racked it over several pounds of raspberries....