Possible Brett Contamination/Infection

Discussion in 'Homebrewing' started by axeman9182, Dec 7, 2012.

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  1. axeman9182

    axeman9182 Initiate (0) Aug 5, 2009 New Jersey

    I brewed a porter about a month ago, and it was the first time I ever harvested yeast from a previous batch and repitched (took the cake of WLP002 from a 4% mild). I'd like to think that in general my sanitation practices are good (this is my 25th batch and I've never before had an issue), but I went to bottle tonight and there's a bit of weirdness on top.

    [​IMG]

    The only reason I think it might not be infected is that the beer was at 1.020 after two weeks of fermentation (OG 1.064), so for the following two weeks I roused the yeast cake a couple times and kept it heated and in the low 70s, and yet tonight it's still sitting at 1.020. I figured the gravity would have dropped at least a little if there were some critters at work. I wanted to put this to you good people before I risk contaminating anything besides my primary bucket.
     
    #1 axeman9182, Dec 7, 2012
  2. gdkersey

    gdkersey Initiate (0) Mar 6, 2008 Massachusetts

    Besides that white patch at the top, it doesn't look that odd to me. Since you pitched on a yeast cake, there is likely more yeast than usual and may not have fully flocculated/dropped out.
     
    #2 gdkersey, Dec 7, 2012
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  3. axeman9182

    axeman9182 Initiate (0) Aug 5, 2009 New Jersey

    Alright, thanks. I think I was a little paranoid given that this was my first time harvesting yeast, and warm flat beer always tastes funny to me so I wasn't really sure.
     
    #3 axeman9182, Dec 7, 2012
  4. inchrisin

    inchrisin Pooh-Bah (2,013) Sep 25, 2008 Indiana
    Pooh-Bah

    Bottle time. It doesn't look odd to me. It may or may not be infected. It probably won't taste tart or funky right away either. Expect to drink this beer within the next 6 months and you'll probably be fine. Make a few batches of chili while you're at it. :slight_smile: If your OG starts dropping in the bottles (gushers/bottle bombs) just throw the beer in the fridge.
     
    #4 inchrisin, Dec 7, 2012
  5. FeDUBBELFIST

    FeDUBBELFIST Pooh-Bah (1,765) Oct 31, 2009 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah

    This just happened to me and it looked exactly like that. I overpitched, by A LOT. My beer was a second runnings mild (~4%) that probably only needed 1/2 a vile of yeast instead of a healthy, second generation culture.

    The yeasty/doughy smell was too much for me. I cold crashed a couple times trying to get the yeast drop out, with hopes that the smell would go too. Even tried to overcome the smell with dryhopping. No such luck - so I dumped it
     
    #5 FeDUBBELFIST, Dec 7, 2012
  6. gdkersey

    gdkersey Initiate (0) Mar 6, 2008 Massachusetts

    I had the same experience on my last beer. I used a cake of Wyeast West Yorkshire from a 4% bitter, and racked a 1.07 stout on top. After two weeks it looked similar to what the OP posted; after another week in the keg and cold crashed, it still has a noticeable yeasty taste. Last time I ever rack directly onto a yeast cake.
     
    #6 gdkersey, Dec 7, 2012
  7. axeman9182

    axeman9182 Initiate (0) Aug 5, 2009 New Jersey

    Alright, good to know that's probably what it is. I guess I'll let the bottles carb for a couple weeks and then try to cold crash them. Cheers!
     
    #7 axeman9182, Dec 7, 2012
  8. reverseapachemaster

    reverseapachemaster Zealot (722) Sep 21, 2012 Texas

    Unless there were naughty yeast or bacteria that don't belong, pitching on a yeast cake will not cause problems with a beer.
     
    #8 reverseapachemaster, Dec 7, 2012
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