Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaargh!!!

[Asahikun]

So, there I am brewing a batch and everything is going fine. I've mixed up my 2 tins of extract and the fermenter is in the sink being filled up with cold water. Somehow I managed to get sticky extract on the light cord above the sink. So I grab the dish cloth to clean it off. I'm sure you can see where this is going......the dirty dish cloth falls straight out of my hand and straight into my rapidly cooling wort!!!
F%$£%^^&^%k!!!!!!!!!

After a bunch of expletives and a cigarette while weighing up my options, I poured the whole batch straight down the sink. I briefly considered boiling it but I don't have a pot big enough.

Guess what batch number this was for me???

What would you have done???

[ray m]

Oh, crap, Asahi'......I would have responded in THIS sequence:

---let loose with a hearty number of expletives (every other one being f%&k);
---thrown the offending washtowel across the room, while letting fly with more choice verbage;
---more verbage

I really wish you had not ditched the batch. I would have taken my chances, finished as usual the cooling, yeast adding, etc. and waited to see what happened (while continuing to use up my allotment of profanity for the year). What the hell have ya got to lose, ya know??

If I may throw in a little story that happened to me on my 3rd batch: I was still very new to the hobby, and this time I overcooled my wort to like 58*. So I waited hours, wrapping the ferment bucket in blankets and setting in on a heat vent in the room. By 10 pm, I was tired and did not care anymore. The wort was now about 64*. I opened up the dry yeast packet, and as I did so, the packet opened a lot quicker that I expected. My entire (and only) supply of dried yeast went ALL OVER the kitchen floor, which was absolutely filthy that day. I considered dumping it, but I decided to use my hands and gather as much of the renegade yeast from the floor as possible. Into the wort it went. The beer ended up drinkable ( though it was not my best), but I did not find it at all offensive, and neither did my neighbors/buddies who drank it.

I have found, Asahi', in more instances than I care to count, that I commit a sanitation no-no and think my batch is absolutely screwed, and it turns out fine. I honestly believe the beer God gives all of us one freebie, as long as the rest of our sanitation practices is followed.

Tonight, I will raise a glass of hearty ale in honor of you and your fallen batch. Best of luck to your next brew session!! Don't be so quick to dump it if you commit a boo-boo!!

Ray

[YamahaXS]

ouch!


My condolences to you.



:(



i probably would of let it ferment just to see.

[fretlessman71]

Could you have re-boiled it to kill anything living in that rag and started over? Would have been more work, but might have saved a batch for you... who knows!

Awfully sorry for your loss....

[Fast_Eddy]

I agree with Ray - I would've went ahead and used it. Even if something had been growing on the rag it's a toss up as to whether or not it could survive the harsh conditions created by fermentation. You have to remember there are not very many beer/wort spoilers out there - when considering the size of the catalog of known micro-organisms. Also consider that millions of gallons of delicious beer was brewed long before PBW, B-brite, one step, etc was ever created.

[Caffinehog]

Yeah, but a dishrag sits moist and has bits of food in it. It is one of the dirtiest things in the house. I would have used it, but I definately would have reboiled it!

[mortong]

I'd be cautious about the dishrag - as Caffeinhog said, they do get pretty dirty.

The scariest problem is the possibility of the big nasties being on there from other food - Salmonilla, E-coli, as well as the usual beer beasts.

[Asahikun]

Wow. Thanks.
Yes, it's pretty much the dirtiiest thing that we have in our houses..
This is my last batch here. I don't want it to get infected. I'll be moving on soon and yes, I could have tried my luck but, if you figured that this was the end of an era of your brewing and your life, would you leave it to chance? I think not.
Batch 14 starts tomorrow!

[mmmBeer...]

Man, that sucks! I feel for you...Personally I would have reboiled for 15 min, but as you mentioned that wasn't an option for you.

[barley ben]

Yeah, that could have been pushing it. I know what my dish rags are like and I think it would haunt my brain all of the way till the beer was ready. Seems like it's worth just starting over so you don't drive yourself nuts worrying about it.

[axis714]

soyou threw in the towel eh? lol sry someone had to say it ;)

[Caffinehog]

Originally posted by Asahikun
Wow. Thanks.
Yes, it's pretty much the dirtiiest thing that we have in our houses..
This is my last batch here. I don't want it to get infected. I'll be moving on soon and yes, I could have tried my luck but, if you figured that this was the end of an era of your brewing and your life, would you leave it to chance? I think not.
Batch 14 starts tomorrow!

Make a special batch, then.
Maybe wheat. Maybe a lambic. Maybe an imperial stout. Maybe an imperial IPA. Maybe a barleywine. But don't just brew another pale ale.

[paul84043]

I'd be hard pressed to use it....I know what my kids do with dishrags and put them back in the sink....like wipe stuff up off the floor, etc....

Usually, while I'm brewing, I'll get out a clean towel just for brewing and let it sit in the sanitizing solution.

If I had dropped my "brewing" dishrag into it, I'd have kept on going. but the other "real" dishrag....I think I'd have to dump it, I'd never get over the thoughts of what was on it...

[orb]

Shite happens...I'd dump it out, swear outside, and have a beer. The most you are out is 2 hours of work and (extract brewing), $25 worth of product. You will never make that mistake again. Eat the loss, and joyfully deduct it from the cost of your education.What I mean is, you have taught yourself the science of brewing without a formal education.....20 bucks down, so what. Sit down now and create your next recipe.......and, in the future, clear the room of dishrags.....

[brewmonkey]

I would have fermented it out, tasted it and gone from there. If it tasted off, I would have gone and bought some L Delbrueckii and see where that would take you. When it doubt, turn it into a Belgian beer.

[Asahikun]

Thanks for all the replies. It may have turned out fine but I would have been way too worried and, as I said, it's the last batch I'll be brewing for quite a while so I wanna make sure it's drinkable.

I'm rebrewing my favorite batch to date - Blackrock's New Zealand Draught. I bought new ingredients on my way out last night. I'll try and get it made today if this hangover ever clears!

I'm looking forward to getting settled in England and moving away from all-extract brewing. I'll no doubt be bugging all you guys with questions when I move onto specialty grains and, hopefully, eventually, all-grain.

Cheers to you all!!!

[OldHooky]

Where in England?

[Caffinehog]

Originally posted by Asahikun
. I'll no doubt be bugging all you guys with questions when I move onto specialty grains

Bah! Just toss em in a seeping sock and let them steep between 150-160F for 20-30 minutes, then take them out before boiling!

[Asahikun]

Where in England?

At first, I'll be going to the south east. I don't know where I'm going to settle yet. It depends on what kinds of job offers I get.

Bah! Just toss em in a seeping sock and let them steep between 150-160F for 20-30 minutes, then take them out before boiling!

That sounds simple enough. I read a couple of chapters of Palmer the other night though, and it sounded a little more complicated. I prefer your version.

Btw batch 14 went off without anything nasty falling into the wort. Phew!

Btw 2 - how do you get it to say who you are quoting when you post?

[fretlessman71]

Originally posted by Asahikun
Btw 2 - how do you get it to say who you are quoting when you post?

Oh yeah... the first person to respond to my quote comment gets a 6er of my latest batch! ;)
Go to that person's post, and in the lower right corner you'll see a button that says "quote." Click on that, and you'll get a similar box to the one you see when you post except that it already has the quote you wanted loaded in for you.

At that point you can delete part of the quote so that only the part you need is left there. (You could also totally rewrite their quote if you wanted to be REALLY rude.... sorry about that! Just trying to be educational, you know....)

[OldHooky]

Originally posted by Asahikun
At first, I'll be going to the south east. I don't know where I'm going to settle yet. It depends on what kinds of job offers I get.


There used to be a really good homebrew shop in Milton Keynes. The mall there is shaped like a pyramid, and the shop is inside.

[Asahikun]

Originally posted by fretlessman71
Since poor old Asahikun had such a nightmare brewing experience, I've decided to take pity and send my entire next batch to him.

Wow, what a guy! It's guys like you that restore my faith in people. Just send it to me via Hiroshima College of Foreign Languages. I'm already looking forward to it :D

[Asahikun]

OldHooky,

Thanks for the tip about the shop. I doubt I'll be settling in MK since I haven't heard much good said about it. Sorry if I'm insulting your hometown! It could end up being within traveling distance though.

[fretlessman71]

Originally posted by Asahikun
Wow, what a guy! It's guys like you that restore my faith in people. Just send it to me via Hiroshima College of Foreign Languages. I'm already looking forward to it

Yep... two bottles of cream soda, coming right up! :p

[OldHooky]

Originally posted by Asahikun
OldHooky,

Thanks for the tip about the shop. I doubt I'll be settling in MK since I haven't heard much good said about it. Sorry if I'm insulting your hometown! It could end up being within traveling distance though.


I lived 15 miles west of MK while I was in the military. We only went there to go to the movies. I'm sure you'll find HB shops all over the place in England. If I could live anywhere in England it would be in Oxfordshire or Northants.

[Asahikun]

Originally posted by OldHooky
If I could live anywhere in England it would be in Oxfordshire or Northants.

What do you like about those places?

[OldHooky]

I felt like I belonged there. Small villages, rolling hills, a sense of community, pubs that the whole family(including your dog) can enjoy, village sports, canals, footpaths, and IMO, the best beer in the country(Hook Norton). If you're interested, I can give you a list of really nice pubs in that area.

[Asahikun]

Originally posted by OldHooky
If you're interested, I can give you a list of really nice pubs in that area.

Thanks for the offer but, at this point, there wouldn't be much point. Perhaps in the future, if I end up living in that area, I'll take you up on it.

[OldHooky]

Asahikun, this link will take you to a book that I got alot of use out of. It's out of print, but you can still get it used. 250 circle tours all over the country. A lot of detail.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/stores/offering/list/-/0393023559/all/ref=dp_pb_a/102-5430227-1421750

[mortong]

I was born in Oxfordshire. Unfortunately, we left when I was still too young to remember. In my "adult" years I lived for awhile near Glasgow, but never made it south to visit my birthplace. Hopefully someday soon it will happen.

[I'mRocketMan]

My second batch was a Pale Ale... After I had steeped the grains and dissolved the DME, I was trying to determine the rate of temp rise on the way to the boil, when I broke the floating thermometer in the wort! I believe I uttered quite a few choice words. Had a beer and a smoke while uttering a few more and called my brewing buddy BeerNazi to discuss what I should do... Ended up not wanting to take the chance with the lead shot and bits of glass, so I poured it out... Damn, it smelled GOOD! A couple weeks later I got another kit and brewed it again... I wasn't too happy with the results, but learned!

Don't break the thermometer!
Don't scrape the brew pot!
Have a second person help with racking so trub doesn't get in the keg!

All six other batches have ROCKED!!
I've got a Cassini Celebration Ale and a Saturn Imperial Stout in primary fermentation! So far, so good!

Cheers Rocket

[Asahikun]

I drank one from batch 14 tonight and it tasted great and then I spilt the rest all over the carpet!!! Damn, shit &^%$£"!!!!! My wife, who hadn't spilt hers, thoroughly enjoyed it.

Anyway, it tasted great with a reasonable amount of carbonation after only 7 days. It's gonna be deadly good after another week or so!

Anyway again, I haven't been posting much recently. I'm gonna be gone for a while. After living abroad for 8 years, I've decided to go home and try to get my life together there. I only started brewing in June and already I feel like I know you guys really well from reading and sometimes posting. My life is in turmoil right now - I have no job, nowhere to live except with my folks, no possesions at all... What I do have is myself, a great wife, a small amount of savings and a strong will.

Thanks for all your great input. I'll be back soon.

[Stodbrew]

Good luck! I hope everything works out for you. We'll see you soon. :D


Cheers!


Steve

[fretlessman71]

All will be well for you... keep your thoughts up, and we'll keep you in our thoughts and prayers and look for your shining avatar from time to time! God speed!

[Fast_Eddy]

Good luck - and for goodness sakes keep your dish cloths away from your beer ;)

[Asahikun]

Thanks for the words of encouragement!

After rereading my post above, I thought I should clarify before the food parcels start arriving. In case it wasn't clear, this situation is of my own choosing. I have no job coz I will leave my current one at the end of March and then head back to England. I'll be living with my folks at first since it's hard to find a place when you're 1000's of miles away.
Anyway, it's all gonna be pretty hectic though.

Just wanted to clarify.

[OldHooky]

All the best. I envy your move back to England. Wish I could do it. Drink a pint for me. Cheers.

[ray m]

Good luck, Asahikun..............I hope all turns out well for ya. Look forward to seeing your posts again. We'll still be here!!!!!:)