I actually don't need an answer to that question. I am more interested in what YOU would do. (I just wanted to use the WWJD acronym!)
I brewed up a sort of Firestone Walker Union Jack IPA clone (getting rid of old degraded hops, so I was more or less making up the IBUs, hence the clone-ish). 10 gallons with a split S-04 and S-05 pitch. Got a phone call to help out a friend who was stranded after chilling, and by the time I got home was too exhausted to rehydrate. Dry pitched, but this morning am having pitcher's regret. OG is 1.067, and the pitching temp was about 62 f/17 C. Overnight, however, the temps dropped to 14.5 C. My aeration is also pretty half-assed, so cell growth might be compromised. Combination of low initial pitch temp and high OG is going to mean pretty high cell mortality. I figure that realistically I am at <50% of the cell count I ought to have for proper fermentation.
Now, here's the thing... I have a beaker full of Cal Lager yeast (WY2112--4 liter starter) that I started and abandoned a couple of weeks ago.It has been refrigerated and should be viable. I got paranoid about contamination because it just had an elastic band constrained piece of tin foil to protect it from the bad guys in the fridge (and I left the residual starter wort in there to provide a nice home for them). But it is there calling to me now...
So, I have two options:
1) Proceed with fermentation as is. I am sure this will be just fine. I know that attenuation might suffer a bit, and I will probably get more flavour compounds, esters, etc., than I want, but whatever.
2) Pitch the WY2112. This will mean I have a solid cell count, and I was going to ferment at 62 f anyway, which is happy enough for 2112. Now, it is possible that I might be introducing an infection, but I will also get the fun of making two neat hybrid brews. The Cal Lager is going to throw more esters, which negates part of the justification for pitching it, but should save me on acetaldehyde, etc. I can taste the fermented starter to check for obvious infection.
What would you do?
Jason
