It's been in the secondary for a few days now and I'm getting this stuff on the surface of the beer that may be unusual. Looks like little pockets of sediment are gurgling up from the bottom or something. There is almost no activity in the airlock, though, so I don't think it is infected, but I just wanted to check.
Thanks, JM
It sounds as though you're still fermenting. Relax and have another homebrew. Maybe two.
Wild
Even if there isn't a lot of activity in the airlock? Did you get a chance to see the link I posted?
Yes I did see the pic. I'd assumed the large white spot was a reflection of the flash and you said that there was almost no activity in the airlock so to me it sounds as if you might have racked early and it isn't done fermenting. What did you brew? What ingredients did you use? What was the gravity when you racked to secondary? What did it taste and smell like when you racked? With a little more infomation, maybe someone on here will have a better idea what happening to your brew.
Wild
Thanks Wild. It's a summer ale kit from Williams Brewing
Includes 6 pounds of blended malt extract, flavoring and aromatic hops, liquid yeast, and corn sugar for carbonation. Makes 5 gallons with a starting gravity of at least 1.039. Ease of Brewing: Beginner.
I racked to secondary after five days in the primary. Activity in the airlock was next to nothing at racking time. Original gravity was 1.042 and when I racked to secondary it was 1.014.
There was a fair amount of sloshing around when I walked it down the hallway to put into a dark closet. Temperature has been pretty warm and humid, too.
Smelled well-hopped. Had a light taste and a nice hop presence on the tongue. Not much alcohol bite at all.
Just checked it again and there are one or two additional little islands of tiny bubbles on the surface, the color of burnt custard (man, I dunno if that makes any sense) ;)
If it were infected, I'd see some serious airlock activity, right?
You are almost certainly fine. You are just seeing some CO2 releasing and/or some additional yeast activity. With a gravity of 1.014, it will likely ferment out a few more points. Follow the mantra: RDWHAHB (Relax, don't worry, have a homebrew).
Maybe, maybe not. Most, but not all, infections will affect the taste and usually be sour. Since yours tasted fine at racking, you're almost certainly in good shape.
Derric
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