Starter Smells Infected
Posted: Sat Apr 21, 2012 3:45 am
by 3 Dogs
I am using WLP037 Yorkshire Square Ale. I stepped up one vial this week. I boiled it in a 2 L flask and cooled it and decanted it into a 5 L flask and cooled it. I was decanting it and noticed a sour smell. It tastes very slightly sour, but it is a yeast starter. I wonder if I should use it or not? I have never tasted a starter before, so I don't know if this is normal or not. This is the only yeast I have on hand.
Re: Starter Smells Infected
Posted: Sat Apr 21, 2012 7:19 am
by spiderwrangler
3 Dogs wrote:I am using WLP037 Yorkshire Square Ale. I stepped up one vial this week. I boiled it in a 2 L flask
I'm assuming you didn't boil your yeast...
Re: Starter Smells Infected
Posted: Sat Apr 21, 2012 10:57 am
by brewinhard
If the starter wort both smelled and tasted slightly sour, then I would not use it. Is it just a "yeasty" smell and tang, or does it truly have a sour note to it? You could always try adding some additional starter wort to it (after decanting the old) and see if that too comes out sour like the first one, just to be sure.
Re: Starter Smells Infected
Posted: Sat Apr 21, 2012 11:56 am
by spiderwrangler
What was your best by date on your yeast? Since that was a while ago in the platinum series...
Re: Starter Smells Infected
Posted: Sun Apr 22, 2012 2:59 am
by 3 Dogs
Apr 2 2012. I tossed the starter. It took me all week to step up. Pissed me off. Next time I step up some yeast, I'll go with the larger flask and stick with it.
3 Dogs