Hey Gang, I just finished making a chocolate stout and it's aged for about two weeks now. I'm ready to try one out but there's a funny ring around the top of the beer. This is my 6th batch and it's the first time I've seen anything like this. Could it be infected?
A ring around the neck of the bottle is a sign of infection. Check a number of bottles. If all of them have a ring, the whole batch may be infected. But, it is possible that you missed a few bottles when you sanitized.
I'd still try it. Even if infected, the only thing that will hurt you is the taste. The pH and alcohol content of the beer make it impossible for anything to survive that can cause any real damage to you.
There is a good chance that there is nothing wrong with it. If you used some sort of powdered chocolate in this, it may just be some undissolved chocolate solids that have floated to the top. The best way to check is to try a bottle. If it tastes ok, don't worry about it.
Wayne Bugeater Brewing Company
Chocolate has oils in it, and oil is a head killer. What kind of chocolate did you use? If you used anything but cocoa powder, the stuff that holds it together (and makes it so goddam tasty) is fat. Even cocoa powder has some oil in it.
All other concerns, belief-systems, likes/dislikes aside, I have to know---
*why* would you do this to a poor, defenseless beer that has never harmed you in any way? {:-)--
--DAsh
What did you use for the chocolate flavour? If you used real chocolate rather than chocolate malt, it can leave a ring in the bottle. I'd taste it before starting to worry.
John.
It can be, but there are several non-infection things that can also cause rings. Using real chocolate is one, priming with DME rather than sugar can also cause rings.
John.
Chocolate has oils in it, which can both leave a thin film and hurt your beers head retention. I wouldn't worry about either.
John.
Is it in a carboy? What color is the ring? My stouts leave a dark brown ring of resin at the water level of the carboy every time. These are generally resins that are bitter and just as well stuck to the sides as opposed to being in your beer.
When in doubt, taste it before you ask, because that is what most people are going to tell you to do anyway.
Tom Veldhouse
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