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Author Topic: Wort turned black within 5 minutes  (Read 2743 times)

Offline yso191

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Wort turned black within 5 minutes
« on: November 21, 2012, 07:21:27 pm »
I am writing to ask what made this happen.  Admittedly I am new to brewing, as this is my 4th batch, but I have never heard of this happening.

I brewed an Belgian Imperial IPA.  The temperature in the carboy was a little warmer than I wanted at 74*, so I thought I would wait to pitch the yeast till it dropped.  In the meantime I went ahead and aerated with pure O2 for 60 seconds.  About 5 minutes later I looked at the carboy and the wort was almost totally black! 

I assumed it was because of the O2, so I immediately pitched the yeast (since it is OK up to 76*).  It has since cleared back up to it's approximately 9 SRM.

But this is a puzzle.  What happened?

Steve
Steve
BJCP #D1667

“Fallacies do not cease to be fallacies because they become fashions.” ― G.K. Chesterton

Offline In The Sand

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Wort turned black within 5 minutes
« Reply #1 on: November 21, 2012, 07:50:54 pm »
I heard of this happening but can't remember the forum I read it on. Try searching for it.
Trey W.

Offline tygo

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Re: Wort turned black within 5 minutes
« Reply #2 on: November 21, 2012, 08:13:38 pm »
Probably just the trub that was in there dropping out.  It didn't have anything to do with the O2.
Clint
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Offline In The Sand

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Trey W.

Offline yso191

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Re: Wort turned black within 5 minutes
« Reply #4 on: November 21, 2012, 08:34:47 pm »
Probably just the trub that was in there dropping out.  It didn't have anything to do with the O2.

Well I could see this if it was just darkened, but this was black.  And then it turned back to its normal orangeish yellow shortly after.

Also I did do a search but it just referred to a post fermentation and permanent blackening. 

Steve
Steve
BJCP #D1667

“Fallacies do not cease to be fallacies because they become fashions.” ― G.K. Chesterton

Offline dimik

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Re: Wort turned black within 5 minutes
« Reply #5 on: November 21, 2012, 08:35:39 pm »
What do you use as a sanitizer?
Check out BKYeast for my yeast ranching adventures and home lab!

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Offline yso191

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Re: Wort turned black within 5 minutes
« Reply #6 on: November 21, 2012, 08:41:04 pm »
What do you use as a sanitizer?

Starsan
Steve
BJCP #D1667

“Fallacies do not cease to be fallacies because they become fashions.” ― G.K. Chesterton

Offline dimik

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Re: Wort turned black within 5 minutes
« Reply #7 on: November 21, 2012, 09:18:42 pm »
Hmmm... I thought maybe if you used iodine-based sanitizer you were just getting a starch rxn.
Could me just the trub settling and reflecting more less light, thus making it seem darker.
Let it sit and see what happens perhaps?
Check out BKYeast for my yeast ranching adventures and home lab!

Primary: Braggot, Petite Saison, Porter, Herbal IPA

On Tap: RyeIPA

Offline yso191

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Re: Wort turned black within 5 minutes
« Reply #8 on: November 21, 2012, 09:26:11 pm »
Like I said above, a little darkening wouldn't be remarkable--turning black was.  Well it is in the fermentation kegerator now, looking like it should.  Hopefully it was just a weird fluke and nothing will come of it.

Steve
Steve
BJCP #D1667

“Fallacies do not cease to be fallacies because they become fashions.” ― G.K. Chesterton