Is this krausen or mold?

[ttaylor24]

First time home brewing in a carboy and after a very vigorous reaction once e yeast fermentation started, I've been left with a scum on the top of the carboy. I completed this batch this past Sunday, so it hasnt been fermenting a week. Is this just krausen or is it mold? The scum just migrated to the top of the fluid today.

I attached the picture from Monday evening after the fermentation process began and the other picture was from today.

Thanks for the help!

 

[boscobeans]

Krausen with what appears to be a pretty clogged up air lock.


bosco

 

[mandobud16]

Looks like krausen to me!

 

[ttaylor24]

Whew. Was slightly worried! Haha

 

[ttaylor24]

Krausen with what appears to be a pretty clogged up air lock.

bosco

Should I clean the airlock? Or let it go until next week when I bottle?

 

[gcdowd]

I would pull the airlock out, rinse it off and sanitize that bad boy. Granted there is no more crazy fermentation going on.

 

[dfc]

Swap it out for a cleaned and sanitized airlock. Also, start using a blow off tube. If a carboy blows up people can get seriously injured by shards of glass.

 

[boscobeans]

If it is still bubbling up spray it all down with Starsan and put in a sanitized blow off.

From the looks of it I would not be bottling it next week... Wait till the krausen falls to the bottom and the beer clears up i another week or two...

Check the SG after it clears up and if it remains the same for 3-4 days straight you could bottle..

bosco

 

[adamjackson]

Krausen for sure. Blow-off tube I'd recommend. Honestly, with a 5 gallon carboy, blow off tube on every brew I do as recommended by many more experienced people before me.

 

[ttaylor24]

Thanks for all the help everyone! Great advice and will definitely sterilize the airlock tonight

 

[TimpanogosSlim]

Krausen for sure. Blow-off tube I'd recommend. Honestly, with a 5 gallon carboy, blow off tube on every brew I do as recommended by many more experienced people before me.

I've done four 5.5g brews in 6g carboys and every one of them has ejected krausen through the blowoff tube.

 

[ttaylor24]

So I pulled the airlock last night and placed tinfoil on top. Washed the airlock with hot soapy water, soaked in bleach water, then hit it with sanitizer and replaced it. What should I be looking for? Should there be more fluid or has that time passed?

 

[gcdowd]

Did you rinse it very well after soaking in bleach? You don't want bleach in your beer

 

[boscobeans]

Or let it go until next week when I bottle?

Monday was the mess and by now (Saturday) things should be a lot calmer and the krausen should be getting ready to drop.

Hopefully that problem is over, but again I would advise against bottling before the krausen has dropped, the beer is relatively clear and the SG readings have been steady for about 3 days in a row.

bosco

 

[ttaylor24]

Did you rinse it very well after soaking in bleach? You don't want bleach in your beer

Oh yeah. Washed it with more soap and water.

 

[ttaylor24]

Monday was the mess and by now (Saturday) things should be a lot calmer and the krausen should be getting ready to drop.

Hopefully that problem is over, but again I would advise against bottling before the krausen has dropped, the beer is relatively clear and the SG readings have been steady for about 3 days in a row.

bosco

Thanks for the help. Will the krausen fall off the top as it dries?

 

[boscobeans]

Thanks for the help. Will the krausen fall off the top as it dries?

There will be some stuck to the walls of your fermenter, but the rest will drop to the bottom to join the rest of the trub and compact itself ito a thin layer. This is provided that you give it enough time 10 days or longer..

bosco

 

[unionrdr]

That's krausen residue mixed with hop gunk. Pretty common,so no worries,m8.