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==Mold in Beer and Health Concerns==
===Mold Growth in Beer===
Although little studying has been done on mold growth in beer, it has been known to occur in barrel aged beers are fruited sour beers. Oxygen needs to be present in order for mold to grow. Mold growth on fruit that is in sour beer can occur if the fruit is floating above the surface of the beer, and enough oxygen is present (either from suckbackvacuum suck-back, oxygen permeability of the vessel, or sampling). For this reason, many commercial sour brewers will "punch down" the fruit frequently with a dish-like tool. ===Preventing Mold Growth===* If aging sour beer on whole fruit, use a punch-down tool frequently so that the alcohol and low pH kills any mold that might be present before it begins to grow.* Limit oxygen exposure to the beer.* Use diligent sanitation practices.* Inspect barrels for mold prior to use; discard barrels that have mold growth, or disassemble the barrel and vigorously clean/sanitize the wood before use. See the [[Barrel]] page for details on storing and maintaining barrels.
===Health Concerns===
Identifying mold based on what it looks like is not a reliable way to determine if a mold is a cause of concern for health (need ref). If mold is present in beer, it might be possible for commercial breweries to remove the mold and send it to a lab to check if it is a toxic mold before allowing the beer to be consumed (need ref). Some homebrewers may decide to risk taking a chance that the mold will not cause illness, however we recommend discarding beer that has come into contact with mold, especially if serving to others (mold growing on SOFT fruits and vegetables with high moisture content can be contaminated below the surface <ref name="usda"></ref>).
See the [http://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/topics/food-safety-education/get-answers/food-safety-fact-sheets/safe-food-handling/molds-on-food-are-they-dangerous_/ct_index USDA website] for more information on the health concerns of mold that grows on food.
==Identifying Mold==