Woodfordes Great Eastern smells like vinegar

[johnnie]

I started a Woodfordes Great Eastern 10 days ago and it seems to have stopped fermenting. I took a reading today, 1012, so I'm not sure if its completely finished, but there doesn't seem to be any more bubbles. Whats worrying me is that the sample smells like vinegar, and it tastes quite sour. Is it possible it has been infected? Should I chuck it or bottle it and try it in a month or so? First time I've tried this kit so i'm not sure what it should taste or smell like at this stage.

 

[aneray]

Is it possible it has been infected? Should I chuck it

Sounds like a bad un mate

Chuck it and start again.

 

[BarnsleyBrewer]

+1 on the "Sounds Bad" :cry:
Does it taste of vinegar? sometimes you can get a slight whif whilst in the fermenter but the beer is o.k....

Either way I'd keg or chuck it straight away and then give the fermenter an hell of a clean... :thumb:
Try using a 5 gallon wine fermenter with screw top and an airlock, works great for me!

BB

 

[graysalchemy]

Does it taste of vinegar is the question though. I have a barley wine which has been in the Fv for 9 days and the FV smells a bit vinegary but the beer is fine. That is probably due to the crude on the sides of the FV having gone off a bit.

I would sugest tasting it and if it is ok move to a secondry then bottle once it has cleared. Having said that if it is begining to turn to vinegar it will do quite quick, in that case put it in some buckets with a tea towel tied over it and leave it all winter, then next autumn you will have fantastic vinegar for pickles etc.

This happened to me last year and I have 2 gallons of malt vinegar which tastes fantastic. :thumb: :thumb:

 

[Wendy1971]

Sounds like it has an acetobacter infection if it has throw it away and show your fermenter too as it will re infect every brew. Then sanitise everything

 

[graysalchemy]

As I have said my barley wine FV has a slight vinegar smell but tastes fine. So it may as I say just be the dirty FV. Anyway you won't know until you taste it.

 

[johnnie]

Yes it does taste quite vinegary! I also started a Coopers English bitter at the same time. This is starting to go the same way so I suspect it is an infection. So should I get rid of my FVs to be on the safe side? What about my other equipment (I used an immersion heater in the Woodfordes to get it going as it was quite cold at the time). I don't want to replace everything. Can anything be salvaged with a good clean?

 

[BarnsleyBrewer]

Yes it does taste quite vinegary! I also started a Coopers English bitter at the same time. This is starting to go the same way so I suspect it is an infection. So should I get rid of my FVs to be on the safe side? What about my other equipment (I used an immersion heater in the Woodfordes to get it going as it was quite cold at the time). I don't want to replace everything. Can anything be salvaged with a good clean?

With what you've just wrote I'd throw it down the toilet...... :sick:
You should be o.k with the fermenter but I'd give it 2 or 3 goes with the sterilizer...under the lid and all the hard to get at areas..... Or buy a new wine fermenter with airlock from Wilkinsons.

<<CLICKY>>


BB :thumb: