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I started my yeast last weekend, white labs california ale. After about 36hrs I put it in the fridge to decant. A day later I noticed a little white foamy spot had formed, now a few days later it is spreading. I'm planning on dumping it, but this is the first time using this yeast strain. It's hard to tell in the pic but the white stuff looks like foam, there is no oily layer on the surface. All this began after refrigeration. Thoughts?

How does the starter smell? How does it taste? I think if either of those two is off, I'd dump it but other than that it's likely OK.

Haven't smelled or tasted yet, It smelled healthy going into the fridge, I'll take a closer look tonight.

just looks like residual co2 pockets forming on top to me. Taste will be the best indicator.

I find most of my starters taste weird.

mr x wrote:I find most of my starters taste weird.

I agree, I guess we've done enough to konw the difference when weird is not bad

Things seem fine, I let the starter decant for a week or so in the fridge, bubbles multiplied but I think it was just still fermenting. I smelled it on the weekend and it had that fresh bready aroma. Now it's cooking away like mad on a 1.060 APA

Maritimer wrote:Things seem fine, I let the starter decant for a week or so in the fridge, bubbles multiplied but I think it was just still fermenting. I smelled it on the weekend and it had that fresh bready aroma. Now it's cooking away like mad on a 1.060 APA