Oily Slick in Secondary?

[sir_duke]

Hello all,
I did a search but couldn't find anything so here goes:

I just racked my witbier and noticed a multi-colored-oily slick develop on the surface as the secondary began to fill up. I have attached a picture to check it out, it's visible on the white, lit-up portions of the photo. btw, the beer tasted fine, was kept in a water bath, and didn't exhibit the oil in the primary.

My theory: I changed things up and used StarSan (instead of iodophor) to sanitize, which left foam in the auto-siphon and a white film on the tubing. Perhaps some starsan byproduct was introduced through the siphoning...??

My question: has anybody experienced this and is it harmful to the beer? I'd like to avoid it in the future; I don't want to pour future beers for my friends/family and have to explain that the oily slick in their beer is nothing to worry about.
Thanks for your help!

 

[Skins_Brew]

I am pretty sure this is normal, but then again, I have only been at this beer brewing thing for a few years. I see that oil slick on most of my beers. I am not sure what it was, but I always told myself it was just hop oils.

 

[JKoravos]

There's all kinds of non-water-soluble compounds involved in brewing. It could be any one of those. Nothing to worry about.

 

[sir_duke]

thanks for the replies, guys.

 

[ChickenSoop]

probably hop oil?

 

[jason.mundy]

I've seen this too. I wondered if it was fermcap. I doubt it now that everyone says they see it too.

 

[pjj2ba]

If you had just racked it when you saw this, I bet it's just a litle starsan residue - think of how a soap bubble has the look of an oil sheen to it. One of the ingredients in Starsan is a special detergent.

I assume it is gone now.

 

[UnaBonger]

I'm guessing hop oil as well...