Head "cracks" on hand pulled beer

[simon_george]

I brewed a London Pride clone for xmas that I've kegged and am pouring through a handpump with a sparkler. At first the head looks great but part way down, it "cracks" into distinct regions as pictured (hard to describe but looks like an ice floe). I've seen this on a pub pint before (but very rarely) and had thought it a sign of a beer past it's best. The beer doesn't taste disgusting or sour but not great either so I'm likely to ditch it. I'm assuming an infection of some kind - any ideas ? My process is usually pretty solid and hasn't gone awol before (grainfather, temp controlled fermentation in an SS brewbucket, O2 avoidance, etc) however with this one I didn't make a yeast starter and the WLP002 I used took 3 days to start working (though hit target FG 1.014 from 1.047 OG).

Thanks ! Simon

 

[foxy]

Can't see an image?

 

[simon_george]

Strange I can see it - sorry I'm new to the forum. Anyway here are some pics - thanks ! Simon

Beer problem

 

[foxy]

It doesn't look right, may be a silly question but you are cleaning the lines thoroughly?

 

[simon_george]

There's definitely something wrong alright Don't think it's the lines as I've had multiple boxes of (professionally brewed) beer through the hand pump that have been great and the first "cask" beer I brewed was also fine (I've brewed many "craft" beers but this is only my second "cask" brew). I'll give 'em another clean though and see what happens - though the line is pretty short so can't see how a good beer would get so corrupted in 3' of line. The beer was conditioning for 4 weeks before pouring too.

Thanks for taking the time to reply :) Simon

 

[Dads_Ale]

Have you tried pulling some through without the sparkler to see if there are any 'lumps' coming through that are being broken up by the action of the sparkler.

Is the beer clear in the glass as can't see from the photo?

 

[kelper]

Looks like floating yeast to me.

 

[Dads_Ale]

Looks like floating yeast to me.

I thinking that as well. I wonder if the beer is still fermenting, either secondary or from a wild yeast strain, and there is yeast in suspension.

 

[kelper]

If I drink beer like that in the pub it always seems to upset my guts.

 

[Richard_H]

I have had a few 'bad' bottles over the years of bottling my homebrew and I'm sorry to say after being poured they look like that! normally they lose head retention almost instantly despite being carbonated (similar to cider). Taste wise is normally OK but different to the rest of the batch so it goes down the sink. I assume this to be an infection from a bottle not being cleaned properly (probably a few dots of trub at the bottom) as I also get the odd bottle that hasn't capped as well as the others and they always taste fine just slightly less carbonated.

If your beer sounds like my bad bottle comments then the whole lot has probably being ruined by an infection

 

[simon_george]

Thanks all for the replies - the beer was in the corny for 4 weeks so any yeast that got through from the FV would have dropped and then been pulled through by now ? The beer isn't too clear but nothing obviously floating in it. I've added a couple more photos showing the "clarity" and that the issue is present without a sparkler too.

Beer problem

I'm thinking infection too, though perhaps only minor, maybe from improper keg cleaning. I'll be super careful with that in future - this has been my first dodgy batch but I guess it was bound to happen eventually due to complacency !

 

[RichardM]

The beer doesn't taste disgusting or sour but not great either so I'm likely to ditch it. I'm assuming an infection of some kind .

I understand you wanting to know what is causing the "cracks", but why ditch it if it tastes OK?

 

[simon_george]

I guess one person's "not great" is acceptably drinkable and another's isn't I suppose - can't really face drinking a whole keg of the stuff anyway. Also I have a keg of nice "craft" beer (dogfish head 60 minute clone) to whet my homebrew whistle :) Cheers !

 

[RichardM]

I guess one person's "not great" is acceptably drinkable and another's isn't I suppose - can't really face drinking a whole keg of the stuff anyway. Also I have a keg of nice "craft" beer (dogfish head 60 minute clone) to whet my homebrew whistle :) Cheers !

The Dogfish Head 60 minute clone is on my to do list.

 

[foxy]

Thanks all for the replies - the beer was in the corny for 4 weeks so any yeast that got through from the FV would have dropped and then been pulled through by now ? The beer isn't too clear but nothing obviously floating in it. I've added a couple more photos showing the "clarity" and that the issue is present without a sparkler too.

Beer problem

I'm thinking infection too, though perhaps only minor, maybe from improper keg cleaning. I'll be super careful with that in future - this has been my first dodgy batch but I guess it was bound to happen eventually due to complacency !

Could you not connect the keg to a picnic tap just for purpose of elimination.
When I had an off tasting beer I gave the lines and engine a good clean with sodium perc and warm water. I put 5 litres through a few times, and the gunk that started coming out was unbelievable. I believe it was in the engine, probably the swan neck, even though after each cask I would flush the system with PAA. Definitely taught me the importance of an alkaline before the PAA.

 

[chillipickle]

4 weeks in the keg? thats the problem should of been all gone by then!!! only joking, if it all tastes good, get it finished off and get the next brew kegged.

 

[simon_george]

Poured a glass from a picnic tap - same issue (I've added a photo to the album linked above). I do clean the handpump with a sodium percarbonate solution after every keg/box too.

I waited 4 weeks as I'd read somewhere to condition for a week per 10 points gravity and it was for an xmas treat - but I'm new to this "cask" brewing lark. Next time I'll drink it before any nasties can get to it

 

[foxy]

One other question, you are using a cask breather?

 

[simon_george]

No, I'm using :

• CO2 (at low PSI) -> keg in
• keg out -> check valve -> handpump

The beer is a bit over-carbed from the CO2 in as I'd transferred it when it was completely done fermenting instead of 2-3 points before so it could naturally condition in the keg, but nothing major. In my next "cask" brew I'd like to have this natural conditioning (perhaps using a spunding valve so it doesn't over carb). A cask aspirator is on my shopping list too to avoid over carbing when serving but they are £45 ! "Craft" beer may be more complicated to brew (esp. when obsessively avoiding O2 like I aim to) but much easier to serve

 

[foxy]

There is a thread on here, more than one I think about collecting the co2 from the ferment to use at 1 atm for serving your draught beer. Some use a balloon I use a collapsible water carrier. 45 GBP is cheap for a cask breather they are over $200 AUD here about 100 GBP.