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Author Topic: Is my fermentation contaminated?  (Read 914 times)

Offline Nodehopper

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Is my fermentation contaminated?
« on: June 23, 2019, 09:16:54 am »
This is after 4 weeks in primary. It is a Citra IPA and if it is contaminated I don't want to waste my hops and dry hop it only to find it is sour. This is my 5th brew and I have never had any troubles, this is the first time I have seen anything like this.




Offline Brewtopalonian

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Re: Is my fermentation contaminated?
« Reply #1 on: June 23, 2019, 09:19:59 am »
Looks fine to me.  Is this the first really hoppy beer you've made?  That looks like bits of hops floating.

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Offline a10t2

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Re: Is my fermentation contaminated?
« Reply #2 on: June 23, 2019, 09:36:17 am »
It's going to be basically impossible for anyone to tell just from a picture. Certainly it doesn't scream contamination. If you're on the fence you can wait a few more days to dry hop and see if anything comes of it.

And incidentally, IPAs are best consumed fresh and a month is a long time to wait to dry hop. I'm usually in more of the 7-10 day range.
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Offline BrewBama

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Re: Is my fermentation contaminated?
« Reply #3 on: June 23, 2019, 09:51:00 am »
Take a sample and taste it.


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Offline santoch

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Re: Is my fermentation contaminated?
« Reply #4 on: June 25, 2019, 03:30:09 pm »
I concur with the others.  It looks normal to me.
That green gook is just hop matter & yeast.
Take a small sample to taste to be sure, but nothing about its appearance seems off to me.

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Offline MNWayne

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Re: Is my fermentation contaminated?
« Reply #5 on: June 27, 2019, 07:21:57 am »
4 weeks is a long time for an ale. I'd taste it, if it tastes OK then I would dry hop it (using a bag) in a keg, burst carbonate and get to enjoying it.
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