yeast starter - pitch it or dump it?

know1 · Post by **know1** » Fri Nov 16, 2012 2:42 pm

I made up a starter of belgian ale wlp575 on wednesday night hoping to brew today. There was no noticable activity until this morning (friday) so about a 36 hour lag. Its seems to be going good now and I've decided to push off the brew until sunday but I gave it a sniff and it has what almost seems to be a bit of a sour smell. I know yeast and CO2 can smell pretty funky but it's got me seriously worried. I was planning on using it for a 30L belgian dubbel batch that'd I really don't want to lose. I'm thinking maybe I should scrap it and pick up a smack pack.

Thoughts? Opinions? Advice?

TimG · Post by **TimG** » Fri Nov 16, 2012 2:50 pm

Taste it?

Post by **RubberToe** » Fri Nov 16, 2012 2:59 pm

Starters will often smell wierder than normal brews. They will often have a lot of acetylaldehyde / sour apple smell... one of mine on the weekend did too. Also, I think a lot of Belgian strains experience a bit more lag than other ale yeasts. Perhaps the yeast you pitched didn't have a decent cell count?

Post by **mr x** » Fri Nov 16, 2012 3:09 pm

I've had really sour and odd starters with the unibroue strain. Beers were fine.

know1 · Post by **know1** » Fri Nov 16, 2012 4:39 pm

RubberToe wrote:Starters will often smell wierder than normal brews. They will often have a lot of acetylaldehyde / sour apple smell... one of mine on the weekend did too. Also, I think a lot of Belgian strains experience a bit more lag than other ale yeasts. Perhaps the yeast you pitched didn't have a decent cell count?

Thanks, that lends some assurance for sure. The yeast was one of the 'past due' from the last group buy in which I should have anticipated the lag.

mr x wrote:I've had really sour and odd starters with the unibroue strain. Beers were fine.

Right on, that's reassuring that its probably fine

TimG wrote:Taste it?

I definitely will!

Dirt Chicken · Post by **Dirt Chicken** » Fri Nov 16, 2012 6:42 pm

if it doesn't smell like a fart, use it!

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know1 · Post by **know1** » Fri Nov 16, 2012 9:05 pm

Taste test results: it's all good!!!!

Thanks for the reassurance guys.

I poured off about an ounce into a glass and it still had the tart aroma but after swirling it must have drove off the CO2 to unveil the wonderful phenolic taste and aroma I would expect from a belgian yeast. I am now/again greatly looking forward to this batch.

thanks again!

yeast starter - pitch it or dump it?

yeast starter - pitch it or dump it?

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Re: yeast starter - pitch it or dump it?

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