1st "wild" beer

[timcook]

Last fall, I placed a warm starter underneath an apple tree in my backyard. A few days later, there was signs of fermentation. I built up the starter (2) more times before putting it in the fridge.

On Friday, I made (7) gallons of a blonde ale. The picture of the carboy on the left has 2 gallons of the blonde 24 hours after pitching my backyard yeast. Time will tell how this beer develops. Just a little experiment.


The carboy on the right has 5 gallons of the blonde ale being fermented with Abbaye Ale yeast. Once it ferments, I plan to siphon a sour beer on top of the blonde that I began fermenting in September of 2016. About a year ago, I added 16 ounces of tart cherry Montmorency concentrate to the gallon of sour beer. I figure I will let this carboy sit for a while.



Tim

 

[couchsending]

Did you test the gravity of the wild yeast starters? Did it fully attenuate? Or attenuate much at all?

 

[timcook]

That's a good question. No I did not. After seeing signs of fermentation after the first starter, I tasted a little & it wasn't foul tasting. After stepping up the starter & letting it ferment for a while, I stuck it in the fridge for a few months. I hesitated prior to pitching it this week. I actually had second thoughts and almost changed my mind. After I worked up the nerve to taste it again, it "wasn't too bad." I know that's not a ringing endorsement, but I figure it's only 2 gallons. If the resulting beer is ok, I probably add a bunch of fruit & let it go for a while.

 

[GeneDaniels1963]

any update?

 

[timcook]

any update?

Nothing new to report. As it stands, the (2 gallons of) beer with the "wild" yeast is in a 3 gallon carboy. I am planning a brew day in 2 weeks. I'm going to take a gravity sample from that beer, then top off the carboy with a little extra of an APA from brew day to eliminate the head space.

Tim

 

[timcook]

Nothing new to report. As it stands, the (2 gallons of) beer with the "wild" yeast is in a 3 gallon carboy. I am planning a brew day in 2 weeks. I'm going to take a gravity sample from that beer, then top off the carboy with a little extra of an APA from brew day to eliminate the head space.

Tim

I took a gravity sample. The 2 gallons is 1.0000 I topped off the carboy with 1 gallon of a pale ale, plus some dregs from a fairly local sour beer. I guess now it can be considered a "Franken" beer?

The gravity sample was ok tasting at best. More of a long-term project, less likely to end up tasty. Drinkable, just one dimentional and plain.