Help - Beer in keg issue

[mdavies1011]

Hi All,

I bought a used barrel and have been using it for the first time. I barreled up a batch of the Best of British Bitter two weeks ago (First time I had dry hopped a beer as well).
I came to it tonight to try a sample, was as flat as anything and would only let me poor half a pint before stopping. I think I had made a basic error and greased the thread rather than the O ring, am I right?
Anyway in a recent purchase of homebrew gear I had an old Hambleton Bard s30 gas cylinder, after reading that the gas should be ok even after a few years i thought I would give the barrel a few squirts, Success and the beer flowed out, but also could hear the gas escaping from around the thread
My idea then was to re grease the O ring add more sugar to the beer and keep in a warm place for a couple weeks. The only issue is when I unscrewed the lid I saw this -



I the beer ruined? I'm not sure whether it came from the gas canister or was there before that? Can anyone identify it?

 

[NickW]

It doesn't look good to me... someone more experienced may be able to help you further...

 

[beermaker]

Hard to say - the gas could be the cause but I would imagine its more than likely to be something to do with either the sanitation prior to filling, an infection carried over from the fermenter or something lodged in the gas inlet that could have been blown into the beer. Before next use I would thoroughly clean and sanitise the keg, including removing and dismantling all parts such as the tap, the gas inlet valve and the draw off hose if it has one and leaving them to soak in sanitiser, and maybe consider exchanging the gas cylinder for a fresh one just in case.

 

[edwardss]

I've seen other people on here salvage most of their beer by siphoning the beer under the infection off and re bottling/kegging. If it tastes ok it may be worth keeping in mind if its worth the risk to you.

 

[NickW]

I've heard a "sugar bomb" can help save a brew... I'm unsure of the process as I haven't (yet) need to use one :whistle:

 

[SamT]

Never heard of a sugar bomb, but I'd guess all it could do is increase carbonation by feeding the residual yeast, it's not going to fix an infection

 

[mdavies1011]

Thanks for your replies,

Its a shame to loose a brew, but thinking back I don't think I did the best job when sterilizing. Probably got a bit content as I have only bottled before and nothing has gone wrong.

Got to learn somehow :)

 

[orlando]

Thanks for your replies,

Its a shame to loose a brew, but thinking back I don't think I did the best job when sterilizing. Probably got a bit contents as I have only bottled before and nothing has gone wrong.

Got to learn somehonw :)

A bitter lesson, if you pardon the pun, but it does look infected. Some will say try and rescue it but in this case I would want to get that destroyed and well away from the kit. You need to really clean that well, without scratching, so that surface dirt is nailed, then a good brewers cleaner, my favourite is PBW, then followed up with a really good sanitiser like starsan. The advice to completely dismantle is good advice, make sure every possible surface is given a thorough going over.