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Added backset and my fermentation stopped instantly!

Posted: Sat Mar 25, 2017 10:54 am
by speedfreaksteve
Just wanted to share this strange occurrence. I've added backset to a wash many times before without a problem. This time around it was 5th generation backset. Added around 3 gallons to 11 gallons of a wash that had been fermenting for less than 24 hours. It was bubbling, but not like crazy. Anyways, after I added the backset the bubbling stopped immediately. I stirred things up and observed. Nothing. Waiting 8 hours and checked back. Still nothing. I made a quick yeast starter and added it after 4 hours. I got a small amount of bubbling but then it seemed to tail off quickly into almost nothing. I didn't have pH strips with me so I was a little apprehensive to start messing with the pH, but I took a shot at it. All that I had was baking soda so I added 2 tablespoons. I know it contains sodium which isn't ideal. I just won't be reusing the backset from this batch. Within 10 mins I was seeing fermentation happening again and now 18 hours later is fermenting like crazy as most of my AG ferments do.

Just wanted to share this since I've never had this happen when adding backset. Has anyone else experienced something like this?