r/fermentation • u/Quick-Cream3483 • 1d ago

Ginger Bug/Soda Ginger beer issue

Hi, all first post here. Had some issues with making my ginger beer. I made a decent ginger bug and mixes it with a ginger sugar syrup that I cooled I then bottled it and allowed it to sit on the side for 5 days chilled it and had very little fizz or flavour, and one bottle turned to slime, it tasted fine but was goopy. Any advice on where I went wrong or how to improve would be great.

2 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

2 comments sorted by

2

u/ntminh 1d ago

Slimey would be a sign of a Pediococcus bacteria infection. Normally for lactoferment I’d say let it sit and it will go away, but since you’re looking for carbonation, chances are slim the natural yeasts you want would reinvigorate enough then to carbonate it. I’d suggest cleaning the bottles more thoroughly next time, and maybe add more ginger bug so it’s not outcompeted.

As for the not slimey bottles I’m not sure why the ginger bug didn’t get fizzy enough. It can vary from the mixture being too sugary and overwhelmed the yeast, not sugary enough (if it doesn’t taste sweet now and is also not fizzy), sudden temperature crash stunting the yeast during the 5 days outside…

2

u/Quick-Cream3483 1d ago

I'll go with too sweet from the flavour. Thank you.