Potencial infection?

[1867_owl]

Hi everyone,

I've just started on my very first batch of home brew (pale ale). I followed the instructions on the packet and elsewhere to a T so hopefully wont have too much trouble. Ive got my fermenter ticking over at a stead 20/22c. I have been unscrewing the lid and airlock every day to inspect my brew. After the first 2 days there was very little action, but this morning there was a mass of foam (mostly white but with a worrying large patch of dirty brown). Should i be worried?

I was pretty thorough with the cleansing of my fermentor before adding my mix but im worried that a few nasties left behind may be conspiring to ruin my brew.

I hope the massive collective wisdom on here can help me out!


Sorry about the poor quality of the image.
http://s19.postimage.org/ilnqlznqr/IMG_0707_1.jpg

Heres a picture of my set-up
http://postimage.org/image/dbirup3hr/

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Muddydisco]

Don't be worried thats all perfectly normal the dirty brown bit is some of stuff the yeast will pull out of the beer to make it clear.
Your more likely to infect the beer by opening the lid everyday!!! Leave it shut and leave it be for 10 days or minimum 7 days at least :thumb: Then look at taking gravity readings.

 

[1867_owl]

Nice nice. Piece of mind at last. Any thoughts on 'to stir/or not to stir' dilemma? The gent in the brew shop recommended a daily does of elbow grease (stiring) whist my brother told me not to bother.

 

[Muddydisco]

Again another source for infection leave it be, if after 7 days things aren't as low as they should be then give it a stir :thumb:

 

[Mr BR]

as above be patient leave it at least 10days keep it covered as much as possible i know its hard but will be less likely to get infected no need to stir , after 10 days take a hydrometer reading and then another 2 days later if there the same put into 2nd FV leave for 2-3 days to clear up then batch prime with 85-100g of sugar dissolved in a little water and stir gently into wort then bottle , hope this helps everything you described sounds normal no need to worry :thumb:

 

[flamingo]

Also on a similar vein my kit brew is now 10 days old and is giving of an unpleasant smell on removing the lid.

It was made with tap water that was left overnight before using and had half a teaspoon of Campden powder added.

Anything to worry about?

 

[eggman]

Also on a similar vein my kit brew is now 10 days old and is giving of an unpleasant smell on removing the lid.

It was made with tap water that was left overnight before using and had half a teaspoon of Campden powder added.

Anything to worry about?

In what way does it smell unpleasant?
Fermentation of different beers can give off all sorts of funny smells, i'm sure it'll be fine :thumb:
:

 

[flamingo]

In what way does it smell unpleasant?

Well the best way to describe it is to imagine 6 Liverpool dockers who have all drunk six pints of Stella followed by a chicken vindaloo packed into a 'phone box and all simultaneously have had an attack of wind. :pray:

 

[pittsy]

if its a methane smell ( slightly eggy) it will prob be ok but if foul B O smell, bad feet etc its prob infected

 

[pittsy]

if its a methane smell ( slightly eggy) it will prob be ok but if foul B O smell, bad feet etc its prob infected

 

[Mr BR]

yeah slightly eggy fart smell is normal from the fermenting stage nowt to worry about :thumb:

 

[flamingo]

Thanks for your advice fellas.

Nice to hear all is well.

 

[PaulCa]

As some one on another forum put it to me....

Let the yeast do there job. Put it in the fermenter and forget about it for a week at a time. The yeast do not need your help, they will do what ever they want to do and there is nothing you can do to help. Most interference will just hinder them.

A lot of first time kit brewers want it NOW. They aim at the minimum times on the box, 5-7 days in the fermenter. Double that as a minimum. 7-14 days in days in bottles. Double that too, but taste one a week, if it's nice, drink it. If not relax, have another beer.

If you get bored waiting, buy another fermenter and brew another beer. If you brew more than you can drink, beer will age before you can drink it.