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rexbanner · 08-05-2011, 04:59 AM

I made a starter today. When I checked back in two hours to give it a shake, there were fruit flies underneath the lid. I opened the lid and they all flew out. Apparently they squeezed under the lid somehow.

I didn't see any floating around in the starter, but who knows. I would figure they would go after the wort caked on the sides of the container rather than dive-bomb into the wort and die, but they aren't exactly smart. I sprayed starsan on the sides of the container and lid in case they landed on there. It's starting to develop a krausen now.

My question is, do I risk a 40 dollar batch of beer and a lot of time, or buy stuff for a new starter? I'd have to mail order and I wouldn't get to brew for a week, and it would cost another 20 bucks for yeast+shipping+DME. The only infection I have had out of 40 or so batches, I let the air lock dry out and found fruit flies in there. I got a lacto infection.

I'm so pissed. I really do not want to have to make another 5 quart starter.

**GodsStepBrother** · 08-05-2011, 05:02 AM

I would just scrap that starter. Its not worth it, a small infection in a starter will turn into a big deal once you introduce it into a virgin beer.

SHOOK · 08-05-2011, 04:40 PM

5 qts is huge!

i'd scrap and start again....

i just had this same thing happen last week

so i put a sterilized muslin bag over the opening and then topped that with foil.. no bug problems since then

rexbanner · 08-05-2011, 05:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SHOOK

5 qts is huge!

i'd scrap and start again....

i just had this same thing happen last week

so i put a sterilized muslin bag over the opening and then topped that with foil.. no bug problems since then

I'm so disappointed...now I get to spend 20 bucks, and I don't get to brew this weekend.

**terrapinj** · 08-05-2011, 05:40 PM

same thing happened to me a few weeks back, except the fruit fly got in after the starter was finished - figured it wasn't worth wasting a full batch and my time etc

i started using a sanitized coffee filter that i rubber band around the top of the flask to keep any more of those little bastards out

dantheman13 · 08-05-2011, 05:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rexbanner

I'm so disappointed...now I get to spend 20 bucks, and I don't get to brew this weekend.

Yeah.. I think scrapping it would be a good idea. Even if the starsan killed the bacteria on the surface of the flies, I am sure their bodies are full of bacteria on the inside that the starsan won't touch.

**JoeyChopps** · 08-05-2011, 05:55 PM

I had fruit flys floating in a starter one time I threw it and the frig let the yeast fall out and poured the beer and bugs down the drain and my beer turned out fine.

robtotten · 08-05-2011, 05:56 PM

It's handy to keep a few packets of dry yeast hanging around, just in case.

TheOnionKnight · 09-14-2012, 05:54 PM

I'm going to resurrect an old thread here. Last night I went to go check on my yeast starter and all of a sudden noticed a tiny gnat come flying out of nowhere and hovered around the foil covering my flask. I tried to swat it away but it managed to get into the flask. It did NOT come in contact with the wort. I just sat on the inside edge for about 5 seconds. I lifted the foil and it flew out. Do you guys think my chances of being free from infection are good or should I start over ?

vanillabean · 09-29-2012, 06:43 AM

I found a fruit fly floating in my skeeter pee that I started 6 days ago. Is it ruined. Will it turn into vinigar? If I have to dump 5 gal of skeeter pee and start over, I will not be a happy camper!