Kefir grains are producing "milk beer"
I recently received from a friend a batch of live kefir grains, by mail. The grains were packaged for a few days in a little jar filled with water. As soon as I received them, I put them in some half-skimmed milk (probably too little for the amount of grains I received), and for the following week I could not take care of them, so I left them in the fridge with the milk.
A few days ago I had a look at them, to see if anything happened, and to try reviving them. However, the milk seemingly did not change consistency. I strained the grains out, noticing a very strong yeasty-alcoholic smell. I dropped that batch of milk, but I retried (unfortunately again with some more half-skimmed milk) leaving them at room temperature for the night.
The following batch still did not thicken at all, but the smell was really interesting: exactly like beer. Out of curiosity I tasted a few drops of it, and it also tastes good, just like regular beer.
I wasn't confident enough to drink more than that, but my question is: can kefir grains change milk into some milk-based, beer-like beverage? If so, is it safe to drink? And what caused this weird behavior?
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What is wrong with my kefir grains?
Orangey grains AFTER using for awhile may not be normal, and Customer Support should be contacted. White formations on the surface of the kefir may be mold or may be yeast. Please contact Customer Support before discarding anything. If mold does develop, immediately toss the entire batch, including the kefir grains.How do I know if my milk kefir grains are dead?
To find out if your water kefir grains have died, you can test them by making them ferment a new batch. If the grains are dead, the water will remain very sweet and there will be no sign of fermentation. Another sign is the appearance of mould on the surface.What is the ratio of milk to kefir grains?
-Place 1 Tbsp kefir grains in a glass jar and fill with 1 cup fresh milk. The ratio of grains to milk should always be 1 tbsp to 1 cup, and can be increased if you'd like to make a bigger batch. Leave about an inch of room at the top to make room for carbonization and grain growth.What happens if you let kefir ferment too long?
It will become more curdled and you will see separation happening. The liquid whey will separate from more thicker kefir. Additional fermenting time will also change the taste, it will become more sour. Water kefir will not change much in appearance.8 Things I Wish I Knew Before Making Milk Kefir | The Fermentation Show
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