Expert: Matt Dick - 12/8/2008

Question
I have just started brewing and with my first batch came my first screw-up.  When i was securing the airlock onto my carboy i somehow managed to drip some of the sterilizer into the beer.  Will this ruin the batch?  It seems like nothing is happening now in regards to further fermentation.

Answer
What is the sterilizer?  I mean what is the chemical involved?  And how long has the wort been inactive?

Basically, I'd take a better-safe-than-sorry approach.  Your yeast could be dead, sterilizers are sterilizers because they kill small living things, after all.  But they are almost all toxic to people to, at high enough levels.  

Even if you get some activity I'd dump the batch and start again.  I'm sorry about it, because it always hurts to toss a batch, but if you get the next one going without a hitch, you'll feel a lot better and there won't be any worries.

Good luck!