It’s been a long time since I’ve posted on here, but I’m still an active and dues paying member of the BN Army! I need help. I’ve got a mystery infection in my system, and I’m getting fed up with chasing it. I need ideas. Sorry for the length!
Background:
I haven’t been brewing frequently, so I’ve had several beers sitting on tap for up to 8 months at a time. A few months ago, I noticed that my beers were all starting to taste “the same”. The malt became more pronounced, the hop aroma and flavor disappeared, and eventually the beer began to have a very slight sour/acidic taste.
I replaced a bunch of my potential contaminated materials. I replaced ball valves pre and post boil. I replaced tubing between the kettle and the fermentor. I replaced all the gaskets on my fermentor, and my serving kegs (I usually ferment in a keg).
I brewed a batch of Pale Ale (Tasty’s Pale Ale Recipe, so lots of hops). When I transferred the beer to the serving keg, it smelled wonderful. I force carbonated, and put it in the fridge, not connected to CO2. A few days later, I tasted it, good, but it was undercarbonated, so I connected it to the CO2, and tasted it again a few days later. Within two days, it had changed. The aroma was gone, and it was slightly sour.
So I then turned to the kegerator. I replaced all my beer lines. I took apart and cleaned/sanitized my 3 faucet heads. (I did not replace the internal gaskets, but did replace one whole faucet with a new one).
I brewed another pale ale (21A Bitter American Clone). I fermented in a brand new plastic carboy. I racked into a cleaned/sanitized keg with the gaskets replaced. I connected it to CO2 and the brand new faucet. And it’s turned again!! So now I'm going to replace my CO2 lines, but how far do I need to go??
My questions:
What can be turning my beer so quickly at 45 degree refrigerator temps?
Is it possible that the infection is into my CO2 connectors and supply lines?
If so, how can I clean/sanitize a gas manifold (4 line splitter) or should I replace it, and would I even need to replace my tank gage if it’s contaminated in there?
HELP! It’s been over a year since I’ve successfully brewed a beer that wasn’t infected. I’m losing my faith. I’m about to just give up.
Thank you for any help/experiences you can share!