Cedar Rapids Brewing Society

Just curious as to whether other folks have experienced this or not.

Brewed today and during the boil, I started seeing some small dark floaties in the wort. At first, I thought that I might have scorched the LME as I poured it in and was seeing flakes off the kettle bottom as I stirred. But, I scooped one out and checked it out. It was a small piece of leaf. Obviously it was from the hop pellets. I've never seen this before. I'm not talking about a couple. There was quite a bit of it floating around. The hops were Czech Saaz from Hoptimus Rex. I've used their stuff before and not had any previous similar experience. Anyone else seen this before?

*bump* (Because I'm curious.)

I have not seen that before.

ABInBev trying to poison you? Who knows? It could happen. No I've not seen that in leaf in pellets ever, including when throwing out the dregs from a dry hop where you'd expect to see it.

Maybe the way the hops are pelletized in Bavaria or wherever is different? That is quite interesting. The only time I wanted to use Saaz was in the Munich Helles last year and I had to settle for Germen Select instead because at the time I couldn't get Saaz.

You'll have to take a pellet and soak it in water next time and see what expands out of it. The science experience of the week, I suppose.

Fred

Scorched leaves perhaps? Or, in my experience as a landscaper, the other causes for blackened leaves are rot (typically following frost damage) or fungus.

We'll have to see if there's some off flavors. But, since it's boiled it's likely safe to drink.

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The pieces of leaf were just dark green, not actually black. So, I don't think it was from rot; I think that it was just carryover from the manufacturing process. Beer is done with diacetyl rest and will go into the keg today, so I'll check it to make sure it doesn't have any serious off flavors at this point.

Tony, how did the beer turn out?

Any off smells, flavors, or appearance in the batch where the leaves appeared floating around in the boil?

Can't tell yet, as I haven't carb'ed it yet. It's the Belgian Golden Strong Ale that I brewed for NHC. Plan to do that sometime in the upcoming week. I'll post back after that.

Well, I opened up the keg today to put the carbonating sugar in and thief'ed out a sample. It takes just fine. Can't tell anything went weird with those hops.