[phillamb168]

BetterBottle #1  has an airlock and is bubbling happily, high krausen, etc. BetterBottle #2 has a piece of aluminum foil which I forgot to sanitize (hey, it was late...) and has what seems to be high krausen plus something that looks like slimy cloudy spiderwebs. I am guessing that #2 is infected? Beer is a Mild.

Thank God for double batches...

[jeffy]

I never sanitize aluminum foil and always use it to "cap" primary carboys.
Are you saying there are actual spider webs in the head space or does it just look like that?

[Jimmy K]

Yeah. I'd guess that foil is pretty sanitary out of the box and provides a good enough seal when the pressure inside is high. Taste it before you decide it is infected.

[phillamb168]

I gave it a whiff and it smelled a bit weird - like a tang or something. The other smells like normal ferment. I'll post pictures when I get home this evening - perhaps that will help? And no, not actual spider webs, but definitely weird in a slimy cobweb kinda way. It's on top of the normal krausen layer.

[bluesman]

Acetobactor can set in fairly quickly, usually after a week or two and then eventually will turn to vinegar aroma/flavor. In time it will form a milky white layer over the beer. The bacterial cells are worm like and form web-like structures.

Can you post a pic?

[Mark G]

I'll bet Ron is right... acetobacter, especially if you detect a "tang." I'll admit, I use foil all the time without sanitizing, mostly because I'm in a hurry or forget. Maybe I'm just lucky that it hasn't caused a problem. Post a pic if you've got one, and maybe taste a sample too.

[tschmidlin]

Acetobactor can set in fairly quickly, usually after a week or two and then eventually will turn to vinegar aroma/flavor. In time it will form a milky white layer over the beer. The bacterial cells are worm like and form web-like structures.

Can you post a pic?

Worm like?

[bluesman]

Acetobactor can set in fairly quickly, usually after a week or two and then eventually will turn to vinegar aroma/flavor. In time it will form a milky white layer over the beer. The bacterial cells are worm like and form web-like structures.

Can you post a pic?

Worm like?

Like this.

[euge]

I was told not to worry about weird smells coming off the fermenter. But, visual cues ought to help aid in the diagnosis. Can you post some pics for us Phil?

And the good old taste-test should be the best indicator of whether or not this beer is infected.

[tschmidlin]

Yes, they are rod bacteria.  They just don't seem worm like to me.

[tygo]

Yes, they are rod bacteria.  They just don't seem worm like to me.

More like little caterpillars.

[blorvak]

I've heard that labs consider aluminum foil as sanitary off the roll.  It's a pretty hostile environment for something to try and grow on. 

However, I always use a rubber band to secure foil on my starters, as fruit flies are pretty industrious.

[tschmidlin]

I've heard that labs consider aluminum foil as sanitary off the roll.

It never came up for us - the only thing we used foil for was covering flasks that were then autoclaved.

[bluesman]

Yes...rod like is a better descriptive. In any event they are not preferred in beer. Keeping tabs on your sanitation will prevent these little guys from rearing their ugly heads.

[majorvices]

FWIW aluminum foil, plastic bags, paper towels are sanitary from the roll/box.