Scorched Wort, Dump or Finish?

[Vale71]

This is actually a glass carboy secondary that I've never used before (recent hand-me-down from a friend). I didn't see anything in primary when I transferred it. I have not disassembled my kettle valve yet, not a bad idea.

The fact you didn't see anything when transferring doesn't necessarily mean that the infection occurred in the secondary vessel. Pellicles are formed when aerobic organisms collect at the surface when there is oxygen available in the headspace but the organism responsible could already have been there in primary but simply didn't have the time to form a pellicle or there was no oxygen in the primary's headspace. In practice this means you need to sanitize/replace any possible source of infection cold-side, regardless of at which step the infection became apparent.

 

[JLeather]

Yeah, bulk aging/conditioning big beers is a notable exception where a secondary may be useful. But, it's not a casual or a beginning brewer technique. One must select a suitable secondary vessel, one that's impervious to oxygen, leaves very small headspace when filled, and ideally can be pre-purged with CO2.

Corneys (kegs in general) make excellent secondaries!
Especially when 100% liquid pre-purged and filling them through the liquid post, as you would transfer an IPA (or any other beer) to a serving keg. 3/4 filled carboys, not so.

I've bulk aged an Imperial Pumpkin Ale that way, in a keg in my utility room for a year.

I did purge with CO2 (as well as possible for a carboy anyway) and I filled it bottom-up through a hose to push the CO2 up and out, but I did have way too much head space...

 

[Tyler B]

I just stumbled on this thread... The only time I've ever dumped a batch was after I found some mold on the valve of my fermenting bucket (with lots of head space) which was used as a secondary. The batch was oxidized, smelled off, and didn't look right. The only time I've ever grown a pellicle (outside of kombucha) was when I was trying to step up/grow Chimay yeast from bottle dregs.

I've since stopped using secondary and exclusively direct pitch dry yeast. I haven't had a single problem since these changes and I don't intend to go back any time soon. Of course I can't get liquid yeast here so that limits my options. If I was you I'd try to avoid secondary fermenters. It's one thing to have one pleasant unplanned surprise sour. It's entirely different when every other brew turns in to a surprise sour. I bulk age in purged corny kegs and seem to be having success.

Also, if where you live is anything like where I live, it's rainy season and there seems to be mold everywhere. That might be part of the problem? If that's the case, a dehumidifier might help. I'm worried one of my recent batches will become infected.

I love RIS so I hope that one turns out OK for you. Best of luck!

 

[IslandLizard]

I did purge with CO2 (as well as possible for a carboy anyway) and I filled it bottom-up through a hose to push the CO2 up and out, but I did have way too much head space...

Using a carboy cap you could 100% liquid pre-purge a carboy.
Then refill it with the beer through the same cane.
Just sad to see something sneaked in at some point.
I would taste it, and if good, transfer to a keg, stick in keezer keep it cold to slow down the infection and enjoy it now.

On a side note, I've had sour Imperial Stouts that were exquisite, although none were intended as such.

Are you using Starsan for sanitizer?

 

[JLeather]

Using a carboy cap you could 100% liquid pre-purge a carboy.
Then refill it with the beer through the same cane.
Just sad to see something sneaked in at some point.
I would taste it, and if good, transfer to a keg, stick in keezer keep it cold to slow down the infection and enjoy it now.

On a side note, I've had sour Imperial Stouts that were exquisite, although none were intended as such.

Are you using Starsan for sanitizer?

How do you liquid purge a car boy? I just dropped a hose in the bottom of the empty/sanitized carboy and let a slow stream of CO2 in for a bit.

StarSan for things like this, SaniClean in my "brublaster" keg washer.

Smell is fine, I'll give it a while before a taste.

 

[IslandLizard]

How do you liquid purge a car boy? I just dropped a hose in the bottom of the empty/sanitized carboy and let a slow stream of CO2 in for a bit.

While blowing in CO2, gases mix freely. You reduce the air, increasing CO2 content, but there's always O2 left.

Liquid purge (secondary) carboy:
Carboy cap, racking cane in center, CO2 on the side teat.
Fill carboy with Starsan (or water), push the Starsan out with CO2, under very low pressure (<3 psi). When empty, leave cap and cane.

Use a closed transfer if possible.
Rack beer from fermenter into the pre-purged, now 100% CO2 filled, secondary carboy, either by pushing it with CO2 using a racking cane, or a siphon.
That way you avoid (or at least limit) air/O2 exposure, and the secondary should contain very little or no O2 after the procedure.