I'll show you my SCOBY if you show me your pellicle...

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meisel
Craft Brewer
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Joined: Tue Sep 19, 2006 5:02 pm
Location: Lawrence

I'll show you my SCOBY if you show me your pellicle...

#1 Post by meisel » Mon May 05, 2008 3:41 pm

I've been culturing lactobacillus bacteria for the past few months in an attempt to better understand the little critters. Lacto bugs ferment sugars into lactic acid, and give Flanders Red/Brown ales their sour profile (along with brettanomyces and others). I started my experiments with the intention of blending straight lactic beers with straight brett beers so I could control each bug's different fermentation preferences and mix them to taste. I've come up with some interesting results. I can go into more detail at the next meeting if anyone is interested in the funky belgian darkside.
Image New culture with mother SCOBY (symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast)
Image After one week it has formed a jelly-like pellicle on the surface
Image
Image Two weeks and a new SCOBY has formed on the surface and begins to detach from the mother culture. The liquid can now be bottled for drinking or blended with beer.
Image
Image Fuzzy, but you can see where the separate layers have formed.
Image This is my oldest culture that has taken months to form a pellicle. It's a bizarre blend of Lactobacillus and a yeast called S. Boulardii which is a topic in itself.
Image
My final test will be to taste mixed beers next to a control batch using a smack pack of wyeast's roeselare blend. I'll keep this post updated as the bugs continue to do their thing.

Lee
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csbosox
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Location: Prairie Village, KS

#2 Post by csbosox » Mon May 05, 2008 5:44 pm

Cool! I'd love to hear you talk about your experiments and would like to try some of the results. I just picked up a vial of Brett B and Brett C and I will be using them sometime soon. I love the funk.
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Jensen
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#3 Post by Jensen » Mon May 05, 2008 9:52 pm

Great post Lee, love the funky dark-side man!
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sherrybob
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#4 Post by sherrybob » Tue May 06, 2008 6:30 pm

Are you sure that Einstein's brain isn't in one of those jars?

Those look cool!
Beer Haiku:
Delicious Homebrew
Nectar from nature's bounty
No hangovers here
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grasshopper
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Location: Lawrence, KS

#5 Post by grasshopper » Thu Jun 05, 2008 2:06 am

Sherry, I want you to touch my pellicle ;)

XOXO
K Meisel

Strange Brew
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Melonmon
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#6 Post by Melonmon » Thu Jun 05, 2008 5:59 pm

I love the Belgian dark side!! What an awesome experiment, Lee. I'm eager to here more at the next meeting.

Ellen
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fergmeister
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Location: Lawrence, KS

Yikes

#7 Post by fergmeister » Fri Jun 06, 2008 10:04 am

Keep the flame thrower handy or send me the coordinates for the airstrike. Naplam at the ready. Apocalyps Now!!! :violent3:
Ebola and the Reston monkeys. Lee your house is resembling a Hot Zone. Lawrence had a similar episode in the 80's with milk cultures used to grow mold in different colors for cosmetic purposes. Anyone remember the Culture Farms pyramid scam and the EPA?
:glasses5:

Are you going to share this at the meeting?
:wink: Woo Hoo, a seminar.
Is K really a she pirate? :lol:
Opportunity favors the prepared mind
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