Well, it finally happened

[mac_1103]

It's hard to judge viscosity from that (at least for me) but the carbonation doesn't look terrible.

 

[sibelman]

Basically looks like beer, no? How does it taste and smell now?

 

[Hoochin'Fool]

You guys don't think that thick white strand of (foam?) looks a little weird? Right in the first second of the vid...

 

[sibelman]

a little weird

Yes, especially given what @redrocker652002 observed. But maybe only a little.

 

[redrocker652002]

It's hard to judge viscosity from that (at least for me) but the carbonation doesn't look terrible.

The carb improved with an additional week, but it pours like cough syrup like consistency. It is so different that what I have done in the past but my process was exactly the same.

You guys don't think that thick white strand of (foam?) looks a little weird? Right in the first second of the vid...

Exactly. It kinda clumps out and you can see it spread out in the glass. I wish I could get a little more time in the vid, but the strand at the end is cough syrup like.

 

[IslandLizard]

Thanks for the repost.
It certainly looks weird, the way the foam is breaking out in clumps, then that thin droopy strand pouring out at the very end.
You didn't accidentally add a cup of gelatin to the bottling bucket, did you? Or the wife, playing with ya ("That will teach him!").

Flavorwise and mouthfeel, any notes?

 

[VikeMan]

Looks a little like Pedio. Is it sour at all?

 

[redrocker652002]

Thanks for the repost.
It certainly looks weird, the way the foam is breaking out in clumps, then that thin droopy strand pouring out at the very end.
You didn't accidentally add a cup of gelatin to the bottling bucket, did you? Or the wife, playing with ya ("That will teach him!").

Flavorwise and mouthfeel, any notes?

LOL, nope to above. I went right from the fermenter bucket into the bottles as I always do. They seemed to bottle ok, no thickness to the liquid as it was going into the bottles. I honestly think something happed with the sugar drops. Everything else seemed to work out as normal.

 

[redrocker652002]

Looks a little like Pedio. Is it sour at all?

Didn't notice any sour notes, but to be honest once it poured the way it did, I did not taste much of anything in it at all.

 

[BrewZer]

Here is a really short clip. It's all I could put in here.
View attachment 854072

Any ghosts hanging around your brewery? That sure looks like beer slime...

 

[IslandLizard]

Didn't notice any sour notes, but to be honest once it poured the way it did, I did not taste much of anything in it at all.

Ropiness and diacetyl are Pedio's tell-tales. Without diacetyl I don't know what else could cause ropiness.

 

[redrocker652002]

So, since it is already bottled, will it work itself out? I know that others have left it in the fermenter to rest, but will it do so in the bottles?

 

[VikeMan]

So, since it is already bottled, will it work itself out? I know that others have left it in the fermenter to rest, but will it do so in the bottles?

What do you mean by "it?"

 

[BongoYodeler]

I have no idea what's going on here but if it were me I'd put all the bottles in a box, and put the box somewhere out of the way for at least a month. After a month take one out and refrigerate it for a couple days, then open and pour it. If it's still all weird dump the batch. But really, whatever is going on here, I don't have much hope for this batch. Sorry.

 

[ncbrewer]

I have no idea what's going on here but if it were me I'd put all the bottles in a box, and put the box somewhere out of the way for at least a month. After a month take one out and refrigerate it for a couple days, then open and pour it. If it's still all weird dump the batch. But really, whatever is going on here, I don't have much hope for this batch. Sorry.

I think I would do the same and would treat the equipment as being contaminated from an infection. But that goes into a whole nother discussion.

 

[redrocker652002]

What do you mean by "it?"

The beer. Will the beer be drinkable at some point? I know, you cannot answer that, just thought I would ask.

 

[redrocker652002]

I have no idea what's going on here but if it were me I'd put all the bottles in a box, and put the box somewhere out of the way for at least a month. After a month take one out and refrigerate it for a couple days, then open and pour it. If it's still all weird dump the batch. But really, whatever is going on here, I don't have much hope for this batch. Sorry.

I am going to do just that. I have another sitting in the keg now chilling and carbing up. I did not think it was going to be salvageable when I saw how it poured, but just thought I would ask if anybody else has seen this before. I am wondering if the carb drops were bad or something in those lines. It tasted good before I bottled it.

 

[redrocker652002]

I think I would do the same and would treat the equipment as being contaminated from an infection. But that goes into a whole nother discussion.

I did a really good cleaning of the bucket this time. Problem is that I had already fermented another batch in it that is now sitting in the keg. It smelled and seemed to taste ok, but time will tell I guess. It sucks not having somebody close by to give it a quick taste test for me.

 

[VikeMan]

The beer. Will the beer be drinkable at some point? I know, you cannot answer that, just thought I would ask.

Ah. I thought maybe you had settled on a cause. If it's pediococcus, no, it won't clean itself up in the bottle. A cure for pedio thickness and diacetyl (either by design or to clean up an accidental infection) is inoculating with Brett. But since your beer is already bottled (in standard bottles I assume) and carbonated, Brett would likely make bottle bombs.

 

[day_trippr]

It may be confirmation bias given the preluding discussion, but that pour looked ropey from here. Chilled me a bit

 

[IslandLizard]

I think I would do the same and would treat the equipment as being contaminated from an infection. But that goes into a whole nother discussion.

That! ^
As @ncbrewer said, I would regard and treat this as an infection. Aside from keep looking where it possibly could have come from, start cleaning/disinfecting and thoroughly sanitizing all equipment the wort and beer has touched.

Some areas that are often overlooked, in no specific order:
1. If you don't already do it regularly, take apart and clean the inside of the exit valve on the boil kettle. For some reason the inside of the valve doesn't get hot enough to kill all germs. A black "tarry" residue in and around that ball cavity can harbor Pediococcus. I've seen it, and tasted the results.

2. Same for the bottling bucket spigot.
The main body consists of two 3/4" barrels, the outer one with the threads that mounts inside the bucket and the inner one that has the (front) spigot valve. They do come apart with a pre-soak in very hot water to soften the plastic, and a little brute force to the push the inner barrel out of the outer one.
Don't forget to clean the rubber rings, and the bucket hole area.

3. Your fermenter and lid. Aside from the deep rim, many plastic bucket lids have reinforcement "ridges" that are very hard to clean. Some have those ridges inside: all those corners are a perfect bug trap!

4. All tubing and connectors! Especially on the cold side.

5. Plate or counterflow chiller.

6. Anywhere else in the chain bugs can hide.

 

[redrocker652002]

Ah. I thought maybe you had settled on a cause. If it's pediococcus, no, it won't clean itself up in the bottle. A cure for pedio thickness and diacetyl (either by design or to clean up an accidental infection) is inoculating with Brett. But since your beer is already bottled (in standard bottles I assume) and carbonated, Brett would likely make bottle bombs.

Thank you for the info. I had one beer with Brett yeast and was not a fan. I am going to let it sit in the closet for a month or so and then probably dump it. I need to get thru my bottling wand and tubing and really clean them up I guess.

 

[redrocker652002]

That! ^
As @ncbrewer said, I would regard and treat this as an infection. Aside from keep looking where it possibly could have come from, start cleaning/disinfecting and thoroughly sanitizing all equipment the wort and beer has touched.

Some areas that are often overlooked, in no specific order:
1. If you don't already do it regularly, take apart and clean the inside of the exit valve on the boil kettle. For some reason the inside of the valve doesn't get hot enough to kill all germs. A black "tarry" residue in and around that ball cavity can harbor Pediococcus. I've seen it, and tasted the results.

2. Same for the bottling bucket spigot.
The main body consists of two 3/4" barrels, the outer one with the threads that mounts inside the bucket and the inner one that has the (front) spigot valve. They do come apart with a pre-soak in very hot water to soften the plastic, and a little brute force to the push the inner barrel out of the outer one.
Don't forget to clean the rubber rings, and the bucket hole area.

3. Your fermenter and lid. Aside from the deep rim, many plastic bucket lids have reinforcement "ridges" that are very hard to clean. Some have those ridges inside: all those corners are a perfect bug trap!

4. All tubing and connectors! Especially on the cold side.

5. Plate or counterflow chiller.

6. Anywhere else in the chain bugs can hide.

Thank you for the info. I have a keg of pale that was made after the batch in question. It is carbing up and I took a pull from it. Came out of the tap perfect and seemed to be ok taste wise. Maybe the bottles were bad or the bottling wand and tubing that I used. The bottles I put thru the sanitizing mode in the dishwasher, and I have heard that is not the best way. So, this next batch, if I bottle it, will be done with super clean and sanitized buckets, hoses and all other things that touch the wort. I had not thought of the ball valve on the kettle, I need to get a look at that next. As I said, the batch in the keg came after the one in question and it seems to be moving along nicely, but time will tell.

Thanks to all who replied to my stupid question. This is the first batch since I started in 2021 or so that really went bad. So, I was just more curious than anything to what happened. You guys gave me lots to go on. Thanks again.

 

[IslandLizard]

The bottles I put thru the sanitizing mode in the dishwasher, and I have heard that is not the best way.

As long as they're already cleaned (thoroughly brushed inside using a detergent) then rinsed out and inspected before going into the dishwasher they should be fine. Alas, with very little added benefit, as Starsan would take care of the last step (sanitizing) anyway, right before filling.

I have much doubt about the "sanitizing mode" on dishwashers when it comes to the inside of (narrow-neck) bottles. It's easy to see that recirculating dishwasher water does not reach all the way up into those bottles.
Now if the washer had a spray nozzle in the spikes you slide the bottle over, there would be a chance it could work...

Our chem lab washers had those nozzles, even replaceable racks with nozzles on a central feed line.

 

[redrocker652002]

As long as they're already cleaned (thoroughly brushed inside using a detergent and inspected) then rinsed out before going into the dishwasher they should be fine. Alas, with very little added benefit, as Starsan would take care of the last step (sanitizing) anyway, right before filling.

I have much doubt about the "sanitizing mode" on dishwashers when it comes to the inside of (narrow-neck) bottles. It's easy to see that recirculating dishwasher water does not reach all the way up into those bottles.
Now if the washer had a spray nozzle in the spikes you slide the bottle over, there would be a chance it could work...

Our chem lab washers had those nozzles, even replaceable racks with nozzles on a central feed line.

Might be a good time for a diy bottle washer and sanitizer. I saw a cool one made from pvc and hollow pen bodies. Hmmm. LOL

 

[IslandLizard]

Might be a good time for a diy bottle washer and sanitizer. I saw a cool one made from pvc and hollow pen bodies. Hmmm. LOL

I use one of those jet sprayers that screw into the faucet in place of the aerator. And I only use the sprayer for rinsing out, after they've been cleaned with a bottle brush and detergent.

Much hinges on the state of the bottles you're cleaning. As long as they were simply rinsed out after finishing, then left to dry they'd only need a small touch-up cleaning, rinse, and sanitation before refilling.

Now when you bottle much, one of those bulk bottle washers with serious spray/cleaning capability, yup, worth checking it out.

Frankly, since I started kegging in 2013, I haven't bottled much anymore, except for big or sour beers.

 

[redrocker652002]

I use one of those jet sprayers that screw into the faucet in place of the aerator. And I only use the sprayer for rinsing out, after they've been cleaned with a bottle brush and detergent.

Much hinges on the state of the bottles you're cleaning. As long as they were simply rinsed out after finishing, then left to dry they'd only need a small touch-up cleaning, rinse, and sanitation before refilling.

Now when you bottle much, one of those bulk bottle washers with serious spray/cleaning capability, yup, worth checking it out.

Frankly, since I started kegging in 2013, I haven't bottled much anymore, except for big or sour beers.

I had two of those jet sprayers but they both gave out on me. LOL. I am going to check them out. If they will attach to my sink in the laundry room, no harm no foul and I can take it off and on with no problem thanks for the info.

 

[IslandLizard]

I had two of those jet sprayers but they both gave out on me.

The stainless steel sprayers promise to hold up better than the ones that are all plastic.

If they will attach to my sink in the laundry room, no harm no foul and I can take it off and on with no problem thanks for the info.

IIRC, the threads on the jet sprayers are Garden Hose Threads (GHT). If you want to connect to a faucet with an aerator head (after removing the aerator) you'd need an adapter too, They don't come with one, be aware.

Our kitchen sink faucet has the aerator recessed inside the fancy spray head. So the only place I could mount the jet was on one of the (regular) bathroom sink faucets, using the GHT adapter.

The vanity sinks are very shallow, but since the bottles are pushed upside down onto the sprayer, it works dandy. Then when you push the nozzle down, during an inattentive moment, you're in for a nice wet surprise... You may only do that 3 times before it finally clicks.

 

[redrocker652002]

The stainless steel sprayers promise to hold up better than the ones that are all plastic.


IIRC, the threads on the jet sprayers are Garden Hose Threads (GHT). If you want to connect to a faucet with an aerator head (after removing the aerator) you'd need an adapter too, They don't come with one, be aware.

Our kitchen sink faucet has the aerator recessed inside the fancy spray head. So the only place I could mount the jet was on one of the (regular) bathroom sink faucets, using the GHT adapter.

The vanity sinks are very shallow, but since the bottles are pushed upside down onto the sprayer, it works dandy. Then when you push the nozzle down, during an inattentive moment, you're in for a nice wet surprise... You may only do that 3 times before it finally clicks.

The basin in my garage where the washing machine drains has a faucet with a hose thread. It is where I attach the hose to clean out my kettle and other stuff after brew day. This will work perfect as I don't have to clutter up the kitchen with bottles and can do a bunch at once after I clean them initially with warm water and soap

 

[Willy]

Did you use 20w-50 malt oil? That looks pretty viscous and scary to me.