Spitfire clone BIAB

[Maltmaniac]

Always think that dry hops should be kept full submerged in liquid. If they are left on the top, as your picture suggests, in nice warm, moist areas then I have to think they will go mouldy and cause wild fungal type growth. Never just scattered hops on top of my beer and so far have escaped any issues when dry hopping. Sorry to see that on your beer but might be salvageable if you syphon it of without disturbing the layer of hops. Leave a bit of beer below the hops and syphon off into a pressurised keg, prime and test after a week. If it tastes ok then drink it with mates and move on.

[DaveyT]

Did you taste it or was it just too obnoxious to go near? You might have created some kind of lambic Holy Grail.

[Maltmaniac]

The chuck away thoughts should only ever be considered when all other possible outcomes have been explored. Get it carbed and drunk, my guess is that it is a simple mould and not a true infection and if consumed in the short term it should drink ok. I hope so anyway

[Cpt.Frederickson]

No off smells to it or anything, may have a little sample just to determine if it was the yeast or the dry hopping (as suspected) and then give it another bam. Don't fancy drinking anything with mould growing on it!
Easy come easy go and all that. Beer is cheap...mead, however...

[DaveyT]

Isn't mould yeast, anyway? Albeit singled out so it tastes good and doesn't kill ya. Too quickly.

[Cpt.Frederickson]

There's a distant relationship, yeah. I figure one batch is no big sacrifice. This is probably my 7th or 8th beer, in addition to quite a few meads and the first problem I've had. At least its reminded me to buck up my ideas about sanitation, think I was was getting lax.

[Cpt.Frederickson]

Never one to be disheartened, I rebrewed this about a week ago and have had it sitting in a no-chill cube since...
Finally managed to get my Wy1099 starter to come to life and am going to pitch this evening.
Aiming to ferment at about 18C to begin, then increase to 20C after a week. After 5 days or so I'm going to dry hop again, but this time in a weighted hop bag thats well sterilised...fingers crossed it works this time!
Want to move on to my Deccan Sunrise IP(L)A!