What will spit do to my beer?

[pericles]

I finally shelled out for an auto-siphon. I needed some extract that my LHBS didn't stock, so I was buying online anyway, and NB ships the whole package for $7.99 - that means I have every incentive to stock up on what I need all in one order.

The auto siphone was $8. That's the same amount I pay for a specialty yeast. It's substantially less than extract. It's about the cost of hops in a decent IPA. If you're using adjuncts or addatives, it's comparable.

I'm a guy who's been happy with the "fill-the-tube-with-water" for years, but this thread is three pages long, and therefore WAY too many people are having trouble with that technique. Equipment is just as important as ingredients and technique.

 

[Philsc]

Lactobacillus lives in the human mouth. They make jelly rope, I think. I imagine toadspawn when I read this.

However, yeast secrete a poison that stops bacteria from reproducing. They're greedy buggers and refuse to share wort with anyone else. Then the alcohol kills anything that the hop acids didn't. Then they suck up their poison.

Only if there is a generous innoculation of bacteria or something wildly virulent, then it can compete with the yeast.

That's how I understand the infection thing.

When you get your autosiphon, wash it in cool water. I washed mine in hot water and that ruined it. I've never been able to siphon anything with it, and I paid 25 dollars for mine. I've developed my own byzantine siphoning method that is effective 90% of the time.

 

[phidelt844]

Every time I get the boil rolling and I'm leaning over watching it, I have the temptation to spit in it.

I have a mini battle in my head, like the angel and devil on each shoulder... it won't do any harm.... but why do it?

One of these days I'm just going to snort up a fat one in there.

 

[tprokop]

IIRC, JP's caption under this photo in the print version of How to Brew notes that the slide was taken from wort that was spit in to:

http://www.howtobrew.com/images/f17.sm.jpg

Not to disagree and say you're beer is ruined or anything, this is just the first thing I thought of when I read the thread title.

 

[Spludge]

http://www.howtobrew.com/images/f17.sm.jpg

D@mn, that looks nasty...

 

[ThinkinDavid]

At this point I'm not too worried about it. I posted this to see if anyone would give me any reason to worry and it just showed that none of you have any idea what backwash will do to half fermented beer. The few people with a relevant reply all said not to worry, and I appreciate it. If there are any bacteria from the incident I hope it is flavorful. As long as it doesn't taste like laundry I'll drink it. I'm going to call it "Jack Spit Ale" and explain the name to no one since everyone here gave me so much ****. I'll find out soon how it turns out. This was my first batch so a little spit in my bucket isn't my only fear.

But on another note, siphoning appears to be an important procedure which can easily be taken for granted. If the water-in-the-hose trick works for you then I have no scruples, but it turned out to be a complete load of crap for me. Don't use your mouth, that’s pointless. I've already bought an auto-siphon; it got some good endorsements and seems like a handy tool for the project. As long as the beer tastes good, which is what I've been trying to say.

 

[ThinkinDavid]

...and to anyone who gives a damn the beer turned out fine. It was an Amber.

 

[mrk305]

Yay! Good beer! I just found this thread tonite. Don't worry about the crap. Most of us are half drunk anyway. I am glad you got an autosiphon 'cuz I love mine. I went my first year without one and didn't get one until I broke my original siphon that came with my starter kit. I love it every time I use it.

Glad you made good beer. Welcome to the hobby. Welcome to HomeBrewTalk & welcome to the addiction.

 

[ThinkinDavid]

Thanks buddy

 

[UnaCerveza]

I don't think anyone was giving you crap dude, just a hard time which is normal around here

and it just showed that none of you have any idea what backwash will do to half fermented beer.

It was fully fermented at that point... and don't be a dick

 

[BierMuncher]

...The method that I see recommended a lot is the fill-the-tube-with-water method which I tried several times and found to be an unnecessarily complicated and, frankly, stupid method....

Call me stupid then. 120 batches and no autosiphon for me.

 

[mrk305]

yeah, but your junk is ugly!

 

[NickBoz]

had it happen on a red ale i made before auto and it came out fine, people drank it and i didnt tell them, so i think youll be just fine.

 

[Minky]

Call me stupid then. 120 batches and no autosiphon for me.

Hey Biermuncher,
No offense intended!! I've been brewing for over 10 years and I don't use an Autosiphon either. I use a turkey baster with the bulb removed as a mouthpiece in the end of the hose. I just suck lightly on the "mouthpiece" which easily fills the hose with beer. Then I just pull the "mouthpiece" out and stick the hose in my container and it's done.

It just works so well with such a minimum of fuss that I find the water-filled hose to be unnecessarily cumbersome. To each his own.

P.S. I think I paid a dollar for the turkey baster