Santos is Back at the Top!

I decided to taste my guys today to see if I could bottle some more Ramirez with ginger. He’s still a bit sweet, though. Actually, he’s a bit sweet and a bit strong. I left in quite a bit of the last brew when I added the new tea mixture and now he’s coming up with a very bold flavor. I’m not sure if it’s one I’ll fancy in the long run and will have to consider it after the addition of ginger. 

I noticed that Santos was still floating on his side. I also saw more of that mysterious yeasty stuff. It floated to the top, as it did when Santos was first moved into his current position as the largest jar (although Ramirez still holds seniority. Or would that be Senority in this case...) I went to fish it out with a spoon and ended up shifting the newly formed mother as I moved the jar. I tried to fix with but ended up crushing it. With a sad heart, I scooped the now deformed Scoby out into a paper towel and disposed of him in the trash. And behold! Santos has returned to the top where he will continue growing into a great size! 

The experimental jar is coming up a failure, I’m afraid. It hasn’t formed a complete Scoby, which my research leads me to believe may be a case of wild yeast. It’s very foamy, but the sides of the jar look a bit scumy. I will not be drinking that brew, for certain. I’m waiting a few more days and then calling it a fail. I will need to thoroughly sanitize the jar prior to using it again, perhaps even sterilize it, in this case. 

Diggler has somehow flipped himself over and is now growing ass over head. I can’t imagine why he’d do that, but he seems to still be forming nicely, so I’ll let it go. Ramirez, as always, is growing a rather rough surface, similar to what one might see on a grade school globe near the mountain ranges. Perhaps I can fix him, but I don’t think so. I think he may forever be scarred. It’s alright, though. Although he is not as flamboyantly colored, nor as smooth and thick and Santos, I love him equally amongst my children and my heart still contains a special fondness for him as he was my very first Scoby child.