Just got back home after being away for a year and...

[TarzanFainberg]

...found a primary fermenter that I brewed about 13 months ago.What I remember was that it wasn't a particularly high-gravity beer, a dry stout. I also remember that the yeast worked its magic before I left. Also, no one else lives here and would've contaminated the wort.

My question to you all is this: Is there a way, by looking or smelling, to tell if its gone bad?

I'd like to be able to rescue this beer and not have to dump it out but I'd also like to not have to clean bottles and such for a doomed beer.

What say you all?

 

[CDbrews]

taste it and if its good bottle it

 

[dwarven_stout]

It's almost certainly fine, and probably tastes better now than it did the month you left.

 

[CodeRage]

Yeah, if it wasnt sitting in some direct sun light for a year I bet it is damn tasty.

 

[Revvy]

The only way you'll know is to taste and smell it.....we can't tell you. We're good by I haven't perfected my "remote beering" talent enough to psychically determine it for you. (I just saw "Men Who Stare at Goats on Friday.)

 

[Pickngrin]

Wow, that is restraint. I almost wish I had such restraint that I could forget about 5 gallons of fermenting wort!

 

[Laughing_Gnome_Invisible]

Wow, that is restraint. I almost wish I had such restraint that I could forget about 5 gallons of fermenting wort!

I had assumed it was just forgetfulness.

Either way, I'm only posting here so it pops up in "My replies" I wanna know how it turns out!

 

[danlad]

+1 on the restraint!

 

[annasdadhockey]

Away for a year...were you deployed? Temporarily incarcerated? Lost?
BTW, where in PA are you from? and Welcome to the forum.

 

[Baja_Brewer]

mmmm....beer. Give it a shot, it won't* kill you.

*=disclaimer--> if it kills you, I'm sorry but not responsible

 

[mordantly]

Away for a year...were you deployed? Temporarily incarcerated? Lost?

sweet jesus!@!@! lost for that long could be movie rights. maybe overseas traveling? hows the beer?

 

[jake777]

oh man! I'm just hoping he doesn't take 13 months to get back to us haha

I love reading these posts about forgotten beers and wines!

 

[david_42]

Is there a way, by looking or smelling, to tell if its gone bad?

Yep, bad beer tastes and/or smells bad. Infections tend to be really obvious. If it passes the smell/taste test, rack it. If you are bottling, I'd add some fresh yeast.

 

[Coastarine]

<-Another who wants to know how this turns out.

 

[Kirbster]

Rack and bottle it. And then let a friend be in charge of it. Id prefer waiting two weeks instead of 13 more months to see how it turns out.

 

[COLObrewer]

Pins and needles here . . . .

 

[IrregularPulse]

try it yet?

 

[FxdGrMind]

Hey... dude.... Hellooooooooo?

You going to answer these poor beer drinkers or do we have to hunt you down and confiscate that fine 5 gal of goodness and give it the proper treatment???

Don't hold back.... come on now... we aren't sitting here waiting for nothing... ya know.

We are searching for I.P. address information and will locate you if you do not answer.

So coff it up and let us know the results man!

Say 1....2....3... Cheers and let us know... dang it!

 

[MultumInParvo]

Hey... dude.... Hellooooooooo?

You going to answer these poor beer drinkers or do we have to hunt you down and confiscate that fine 5 gal of goodness and give it the proper treatment???

Don't hold back.... come on now... we aren't sitting here waiting for nothing... ya know.

We are searching for I.P. address information and will locate you if you do not answer.

So coff it up and let us know the results man!

Say 1....2....3... Cheers and let us know... dang it!

Everyone doesn't check HBT hourly? Huh, I thought that was a requirement.

 

[annasdadhockey]

This guy just can't stay out of prison, can he?

 

[mordantly]

Everyone doesn't check HBT hourly? Huh, I thought that was a requirement.

i have an rss feed to my brain matrix style.

 

[RonRock]

This guy just can't stay out of prison, can he?

LOL

 

[mordantly]

time to scramble awacs to pensylvania.

 

[BigJay13]

I too want to know how it tastes!

 

[buckeyebrewer]

I'm gonna sit here and wait for him....I will refresh every 20 seconds. I'll let everyone know when he posts.

 

[mordantly]

EARTH to tarzan. whats your 10-20? tarzan. signal lost. radio check.

perhaps he's swinging from a vine?

 

[buckeyebrewer]

Update - He is not back yet....

 

[oldschool]

maybe he was abducted by ETs

but yeah..he really needs to get back to us.

 

[Revvy]

I vote parole violation and he's back in the pen already....or perhaps a conjugal catching up with swmbo.

 

[avibayer]

The only way you'll know is to taste and smell it.....we can't tell you. We're good by I haven't perfected my "remote beering" talent enough to psychically determine it for you. (I just saw "Men Who Stare at Goats on Friday.)

I just got the book. plan to read it next. how was the flick?


Also, i bet the beer is fine, but trying it, like everyone else is saying, is the only way to know. I want to brew another stout now.