Thanks for the replies. The foil thing was just temporary. I had an airlock most of the time and it’s back on now. I think I’ll blanket the inside with CO2 and let it ride for a while. If it gets worse, I’ll probably try to rack it to a new carboy... or just dump it eventually.
Taste the brew ? Kinda obvious really does it taste ok ? Does it smell funky ? ( it should) Spontaneously fermented beer tastes quite bland to start with (mine does) with a funky aroma Just rack it to a different fermentor leaving the blobs behind.
My souring vessel has had many many foul looking floating things a thick furry pellicle at the moment. I don’t even clean it ; I just rack the liquid out of it then do whatever (add fruit, oak, dry hop etc...)
Originally posted by hopbomber
Taste the brew ? Kinda obvious really does it taste ok ? Does it smell funky ? ( it should) Spontaneously fermented beer tastes quite bland to start with (mine does) with a funky aroma Just rack it to a different fermentor leaving the blobs behind.
My souring vessel has had many many foul looking floating things a thick furry pellicle at the moment. I don’t even clean it ; I just rack the liquid out of it then do whatever (add fruit, oak, dry hop etc...)
You definitely don’t want to taste it for a little while if it was indeed a true spontaneous inoculation. The population of E. coli (and presumably other bad bugs) can be significant until the pH drops, the dissolved oxygen is utilized and the alcohol increases.
Update... So there’s some signs of a pellicle developing now, and the brown blobs are getting a little bubbly and slimy. After weeks of inactivity, the airlock is bubbling again. Not super vigorous, but a solid burp every 20 seconds or so. I don’t think O2 is a problem anymore. Pic’s below.
Is it ok to just leave it alone since the mold patches haven’t grown or changed in any way, or should I still rack it to another carboy?