Beer Forum

I brewed an Irish Red on Saturday and after brew day, I forgot about my hydrometer stand full of wort.

Here it is on Tuesday and there appears to be a mini-fermentation going on in there. I haven't poured it out yet because I'm a little intrigued.

So, the question is... do I dump out this disgusting mess, or give it a taste... for science?

Hydrometer sample before or after you pitched your yeast?

If before, it'll be wild yeast/bugs and a total crap shoot... if after, it'll be a combo of your pitched yeast (maybe even clean) and maybe bugs.

Either way, taste a SMALL amount and keep a chaser handy in case you hurl

Taste

I had that sort of happen with the last mead I made. Had a nice pellicle form. I saved it and, unsurprisingly, it tasted like butt. However, you never know. it may turn out to be the greatest thing since pale ale. If it does, culture it endlessly for profit...or something.

Taste. Do it outside in case you spray it all over the place. . .

It was smelling like an interesting sour ale at first, now it's starting to smell like JP's . Don't ask my how I know.

I think I'll wait until Friday to give it a try. I'll have some Old Rasputin nearby to chase/sanitize my mouth.

Thirsty Mallard wrote:It was smelling like an interesting sour ale at first, now it's starting to smell like JP's . Don't ask my how I know.

I think I'll wait until Friday to give it a try. I'll have some Old Rasputin nearby to chase/sanitize my mouth.

If it's starting to smell like JP's nutters, you're going to need something stronger than Old Rasputin to sanitize, maybe everclear or something.