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yeast starter - pitch it or dump it?
Posted: Fri Nov 16, 2012 2:42 pm
by know1
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?
Re: yeast starter - pitch it or dump it?
Posted: Fri Nov 16, 2012 2:50 pm
by TimG
Taste it?
Re: yeast starter - pitch it or dump it?
Posted: Fri Nov 16, 2012 2:59 pm
by RubberToe
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?
Re: yeast starter - pitch it or dump it?
Posted: Fri Nov 16, 2012 3:09 pm
by mr x
I've had really sour and odd starters with the unibroue strain. Beers were fine.
Re: yeast starter - pitch it or dump it?
Posted: Fri Nov 16, 2012 4:39 pm
by know1
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!
Re: yeast starter - pitch it or dump it?
Posted: Fri Nov 16, 2012 6:42 pm
by Dirt Chicken
if it doesn't smell like a fart, use it!
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Re: yeast starter - pitch it or dump it?
Posted: Fri Nov 16, 2012 9:05 pm
by know1
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!
