Fruit issues

Discussion in 'Homebrewing' started by chrisglasser, Sep 2, 2012.

Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.
  1. chrisglasser

    chrisglasser Initiate (0) Jun 8, 2010 Canada (ON)

    I brewed a porter, let it finish than transfered to secondary. To that I added a handmade puree of fresh raspberries, blackberries and blue berries. Let it sit at room temp and 6 days later transfering to a keg and there are slight mold growths on top of the beer. Transfering to keg and want to know. Is this safe to drink????
     
  2. RochesterAaron

    RochesterAaron Initiate (0) May 24, 2007 New York

    I'm sure someone more knowledgeable than I will chime in, but are you sure that is mold and not a pellicle? Any chance you have a picture? Regardless, I'm fairly confident it is safe to drink.
     
  3. mattbk

    mattbk Savant (1,111) Dec 12, 2011 New York

    Taste it. Taste good? Then drink it.
     
  4. chrisglasser

    chrisglasser Initiate (0) Jun 8, 2010 Canada (ON)

    I'm 99% that it is mold, looks like when you leave a glace of juice out and it grows mold on top. It does taste good and we made sure not too siphon the top.
     
  5. Danielbt

    Danielbt Initiate (0) May 4, 2012 Texas

    Yes, nothing in beer will kill you. Taste bad? Maybe after a few weeks. Drink it fast!
     
    cavedave likes this.
  6. DocT

    DocT Initiate (0) May 14, 2009 Idaho

    Beer tends to have what i like to think of as a magical balance (i think its the ph) that doesn't alow bacteria such as botchulism, salmanilla, or typhoid, etc to live in it. As long as the wort was boiled for an hour and you added hops then bacteria such as these cant be found. Lactobaccilus and other lacto-bacteria, however, are common in homebrewing and can reak havoc on a smaller percentage of peoples digestive tracts. So, yes it is safe to drink for the average person. You might want to have one though and make sure you're not one of those unlucky 1 in 1,000,000 types. If it tastes bad like mentioned above just give it some time, it could end up being an awsome sour.
     
  7. tylermains

    tylermains Initiate (0) Apr 6, 2010 Kentucky

    Sort of along these lines. I recently had my first outbreak of lacto. I had a leak in the basement from a blackberry sour carboy. Fruit flies everywhere. Now I have 2 saisons that are now soured unintentionally.
     
  8. cavedave

    cavedave Grand Pooh-Bah (4,157) Mar 12, 2009 New York
    In Memoriam Pooh-Bah Trader

    I'm gonna go with the folks that say drink it before whatever happens gets into the flavor. You prob have a 3 week window to finish it off without bad flavors. And yes, that is the voice of experience. Now I pasteurize all fruit additions.
     
  9. tngolfer

    tngolfer Initiate (0) Feb 16, 2012 Tennessee

    This would be more of a recommendation for next time as I have never tried adding fruit puree but IIRC some people sanitize/sterilize(?) the puree by soaking it in vodka prior to adding.

    I would scape off the growth and drink it if it smells fine and tastes fine.
     
Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.