Looks like the beer separated...

[bizoneill]

Anyone see this before? I put the beer into the fridge to clear it up and now it looks like its separating...

 

[Qhrumphf]

Huh. That's an odd one. Normally yeast in suspension will make the beer look a little lighter than it actually is, and it'll appear darker as they flocculate. I have no idea what's going on here. What were your ingredients? what was your process?

 

[jperry]

Actually, it looks like your blow off tube, has sucked a bunch of star san into your fermenter. Next time, exchange the blow off tube, for a regular airlock, before cold crashing. Suck back, happens when the temp changes drastically.

 

[derek704]

Ugh, that's not cool.

 

[Qhrumphf]

Actually, it looks like your blow off tube, has sucked a bunch of star san into your fermenter. Next time, exchange the blow off tube, for a regular airlock, before cold crashing. Suck back, happens when the temp changes drastically.

This might just be it. Although it'd have to be quite a lot of sanitizer to do that.

 

[chickypad]

Yep looks like suck back, see where the krausen ring is well below the liquid level? Been there once myself before I learned not to cold crash with a blow off attached. Tried to save that batch siphoning off but ended up dumping it.

 

[yeahfairly]

See..... That's why I come hang out here a few times a day! This is a great place to learn things before they happen to you! Thanks for sharing that OP!

 

[BansheeRider]

See..... That's why I come hang out here a few times a day! This is a great place to learn things before they happen to you! Thanks for sharing that OP!

Ha ha I'm pretty sure that doesn't make the OP feel better.

 

[bizoneill]

Damn hope I can save it...

 

[ShadyBrewer]

Maybe try siphoning the clear layer off the top. Just keep the siphon high and siphon like 3-4 inches off the top. Good luck

 

[IslandLizard]

Maybe try siphoning the clear layer off the top. Just keep the siphon high and siphon like 3-4 inches off the top. Good luck

Excellent idea. Try not to mix the top layer in.

 

[mm1473]

If you do happen to mix it in don't worry--I stupidly mixed I'm about that much a couple batches ago and the beer tastes the same as the same recipe previously. There is actually a video out there of some guy drinking that stuff.

 

[IslandLizard]

If you do happen to mix it in don't worry--I stupidly mixed I'm about that much a couple batches ago and the beer tastes the same as the same recipe previously. There is actually a video out there of some guy drinking that stuff.

A bubbler or 2 full of Starsan maybe, but that's a relatively big amount for what looks like a 3/4 gallon batch. I'd try to Siphon it off as well as the 1-2 inches of mix below.

I had almost a quart sucked up in a 5 gallon batch of Caramel Amber last time and although I couldn't particularly taste it, I kept looking for noticeable traces and each time it made me feel a bit uneasy. Glad when that keg kicked 3 weeks later. And yes, the beer tasted great! If anything, maybe a little thinner, with a tiny, tiny hint of metallic, but that could've been just my imagination. I have tasted Starsan and it has an astringeness and a metallic aftertaste.

That guy is the president of Starsan, IIRC. While he can, he stands behind his company's products.

 

[bizoneill]

Hmmmm I was really thinking about just pouring it out but I may try again it was mixing up too much for me but well see... I'll try again It's still in the fridge so why not?!

 

[chickypad]

Hmmmm I was really thinking about just pouring it out but I may try again it was mixing up too much for me but well see... I'll try again It's still in the fridge so why not?!

That was what I found trying to rack off the top back when this happened to me - I have an auto siphon and couldn't really get the siphon going up that high. You might have better luck trying to rack it from below.

I estimated about a quart got into a 2.5 gal batch. So I guess about twice as much proportionally as Lizard had, but the description of metallic seems right and with a funny aftertaste. I kegged it anyway but ended up dumping it.

 

[bizoneill]

Well Looks like I was able to get most of the beer from the middle and leave behind the starsan hope it worked! well see after the beer carbonates...

 

[zdbrown1]

Nice work.. Let us know how it turns out

Sent from my Nexus 5 using Home Brew mobile app

 

[bizoneill]

It's not tasting bad... Tastes pretty good... So happy I save it! Thanks for all the help people!