Yeast cake in suspension

[KevP]

Hi all.

Had a mate on the phone last night you I managed to get to try and progress away from kits, he's tried a couple of 'stove top' extracts and done well, but he was concerned last night as he called to say his latest brew looked like the yeast was floating around in clumps (he said browny/pink clumps)

Not having been round there to see yet I can only think its maybe protein clumps? But he said the clumps were quite chunky (like lumps of minced beef!)

Any thoughts on what else it could be? a faulty sachet of S-04? Poor cold break? (he doesn't have a chiller)

[OldSpeckledBadger]

It's hard to know what it is but it'll almost certainly settle out as the fermentation subsides.

[KevP]

He'd lobbed in most of a Protofloc tab that I gave him in about 18litres of wort.

[arturobandini]

Not had this but I've read it as Chris says with the use of S-04 and too much/poorly dispersed protofloc. Something like cauliflower florets floating around the FV! As previously noted though it's not a problem from a taste perspective.

[KevP]

Went round there last night and thats exactly what its like, we sieved off most of the top layer and after kegging (very carefully) there was a non existant yeast cake, it was all loose and in these 'florets' as described. I'm wondering if it is indeed the Protofloc tablets, I haven't yet used them as still finishing off some Irish Moss, think I'll give some to my mate too.

[KevP]

Aha! I've found another thread with a picture, seems he isn't alone in this problem;

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=21670&p=244066&hili ... oc#p244066

[stitch]

Just FYI the exact same thing has happened with my latest brew, though I'm using neither S-04 or protofloc.

I did just assume it was some kind of beery/yeasty suspension and that what came out at the end would still be beer! Good to know it won't affect the taste though.