Riddle me this (sour beer content)

[Evan B]

I'm fermenting in glass. And I actually don't have a valve on my kettle, I siphon out with an autosphon. I've suspected that as a culprit and changed it out three times now, but it doesn't appear to be the problem.

I actually just did a brew with all my equipment in my buddy's garage over a month ago. We brewed up my holiday ale recipe (the same one I brewed a month prior, and suspect is showing early signs of infection), and it came out flawlessly clean. Everything used was the same stuff that I use at home, he just wanted to learn how to brew, and have beer to give as a gift at Christmas. It's things like this that keep making me come back to the whole "ambient funk" theory. I brewed 4yrs prior to moving in to here with 0 infections. Then in one year, I have over 10 of 21 batches go tits up.

Embrace the funk, brotha. Spend the next couple of years cranking out some barrel aged goodness. No need to fight the power.


Mylo

That was the theme of my original post

[ipaisay]

Is your local brewery Cantillion? If so, why are you so worried?

[brewinhard]

Sounds frustrating. Even if you were planning on making sour beers. If you do go this route, get good blends to use that will outcompete the permeating yeast/bacteria you already have infecting your brews. The WY and WL blends are good and will drop the pH in your beer low enough to kill most infecting organisms you don't want. Just because you have infections in your beer doesn't always mean that they are making good tastes, even for a sour. Pitch blends in addition to what you already have. I know this might be a long shot, but do you know anyone that could plate your beer out and search for the problem critters to help you identify them?

[Evan B]

I know this might be a long shot, but do you know anyone that could plate your beer out and search for the problem critters to help you identify them?

now that you mention it... one of my fishing buddies is a microbiologist. mayhaps i should talk him in to putting my beer under a microscope

[mediumsk]

fruit flys? these have always been my problem.

[Evan B]

fruit flys? these have always been my problem.

While I don't have a lot of fruit flies, I have seen a few in here, especially during dinner. I think that it is entirely possible they're sneaking in to the pot while I'm siphoning in to the carboy.

[brewinhard]

Yo Evan-

Check out my post on "Ugh, I have infections". Might give you some help or a place to start with controlling that fruit fly issue.