Howdy, folks. I’ve brewed off and on for years, first with extract kits and the last couple of years all-grain with a Spike Solo 10 gal. Still a beginner.
I recently brewed a Founders Breakfast Stout clone using a recipe from Jasper’s Homebrew here in NH. Brew day was 6/4. I’ve had the beer in primary fermentation since then. I used Safale US-05. Temps have been 66-68 deg most of that time, the last week at 69-70.
I checked the SG on 6/12 and saw a really thick, sludgy cake on top of the beer. I searched posts on HBT and found some that seemed to indicate this something that happens sometimes, don’t worry.
I just checked the beer again and man, that is a thick cake. I sanitized a steel spatula and lifted most of it out. I sanitized a long spoon and probed the bucket and noted about 1.5" of stuff on the bottom of the bucket.
The SG is now 1.022, which is fine.
Questions:
1. What the actual heck? I've never seen this in my own brewing experience. Any ideas what could have led to this?
2. What now? Is this okay/salvageable? Should I rack the remaining beer to another bucket and let it sit a while (it's pretty murky), then bottle as usual?
Thanks for any help, bws
BTW, I have struggled with the Spike Solo 10 gal. I know lots of brewers just love all kinds of beer. They'd brew with grasshopper knees if they could collect enough. Not me. I am only interested in porters and stouts, and really prefer RIS. These have big grain bills. The 10 gallon brewer is not meant for 5 or 6 gallons of a heavy brew, which I did not understand before I bought it. To brew the stouts, I have to break the recipe up into two batches, then combine the wort for fermentation.
I recently brewed a Founders Breakfast Stout clone using a recipe from Jasper’s Homebrew here in NH. Brew day was 6/4. I’ve had the beer in primary fermentation since then. I used Safale US-05. Temps have been 66-68 deg most of that time, the last week at 69-70.
I checked the SG on 6/12 and saw a really thick, sludgy cake on top of the beer. I searched posts on HBT and found some that seemed to indicate this something that happens sometimes, don’t worry.
I just checked the beer again and man, that is a thick cake. I sanitized a steel spatula and lifted most of it out. I sanitized a long spoon and probed the bucket and noted about 1.5" of stuff on the bottom of the bucket.
The SG is now 1.022, which is fine.
Questions:
1. What the actual heck? I've never seen this in my own brewing experience. Any ideas what could have led to this?
2. What now? Is this okay/salvageable? Should I rack the remaining beer to another bucket and let it sit a while (it's pretty murky), then bottle as usual?
Thanks for any help, bws
BTW, I have struggled with the Spike Solo 10 gal. I know lots of brewers just love all kinds of beer. They'd brew with grasshopper knees if they could collect enough. Not me. I am only interested in porters and stouts, and really prefer RIS. These have big grain bills. The 10 gallon brewer is not meant for 5 or 6 gallons of a heavy brew, which I did not understand before I bought it. To brew the stouts, I have to break the recipe up into two batches, then combine the wort for fermentation.