How can you really tell an infection?

Jonathon Sunshine · Friday Mar 02, 2007 1:29 pm

I am going a Cooper's Bavarian Lager in a temp control fridge at 13degress.

I am using a genuine saflager yeast, not the one in the kit (which i have kept).

I used a 1kg bag of Coopers BE1 as instructed, and an extra 500gm of dextrose.

The OG was 1040, it is currently 1020, i expect it to drop down to 1007 eventually.

Anyhow, i tested it today (1020) even thou i new it wasn't finished, just to see how it was going, and i figured i may as well try the sample instead of throwing it down sink.

It tasted very.... sharp, not really sour, but it had definite bite to it. With all the sugar still in there this has me a bit concerned.

rwh · Post by **rwh** » Friday Mar 02, 2007 1:31 pm

Prolly the hops. Really, the only way to be able to reliably tell an infection is to have a few, and observe what they look/smell/taste like. It's not time to worry yet, and keep in mind that warm/flat/partially fermented beer tastes significantly different to cold/carbonated/finished beer. That's why we drink the latter.

rwh · Post by **rwh** » Friday Mar 02, 2007 1:32 pm

My last batch was an all-grain. It was destroyed by an infection. Until you've had that happen to you, you haven't felt real pain in the brewing world.

V1113B · Post by **V1113B** » Friday Mar 02, 2007 2:23 pm

I think my last brew was infected. It tasted ok and it smelt alright but I actually passed out after drinking it. I think it was due to an infection. I had 18 schooners though..

Iron-Haggis · Post by **Iron-Haggis** » Saturday Mar 03, 2007 11:47 pm

V1113B wrote:I think my last brew was infected. It tasted ok and it smelt alright but I actually passed out after drinking it. I think it was due to an infection. I had 18 schooners though..

Sounds like your beer has been infected with alcohol.

Aviary · Post by **Aviary** » Sunday Mar 04, 2007 1:39 pm

I had the same thing with my last batch. It was a lager and I pitched a Saflager W-34/70 yeast. During fermentation there was a strong sour odour which had me a bit worried but I've since been credibly told is usual for that yeast. The beer was fine in the end.

Pale_Ale · Post by **Pale_Ale** » Sunday Mar 04, 2007 4:51 pm

V1113B wrote:I think my last brew was infected. It tasted ok and it smelt alright but I actually passed out after drinking it. I think it was due to an infection. I had 18 schooners though..

I have also had this issue. No matter how well I sanitise, after a night on my brews I wake up in the morning feeling a little ill.

mr magoo · Post by **mr magoo** » Monday Mar 05, 2007 11:32 am

Pale_Ale wrote:
V1113B wrote:I think my last brew was infected. It tasted ok and it smelt alright but I actually passed out after drinking it. I think it was due to an infection. I had 18 schooners though..
I have also had this issue. No matter how well I sanitise, after a night on my brews I wake up in the morning feeling a little ill.

how very odd? would'nt be the alcohol?