beer started on its own....

[autoferret]

So a brewed 2 beers on wensday. My starters for each were not quite ready for me to pitch yet. going to pitch this morning. But I have a Pale ale that just started to do its own thing. Do you guys think i should pitch the starter any way? I did have a air lock installed. Do you guys think this is wild yeast os something else?

 

[broadbill]

Are you sure it "started" on its own? Why exactly do you think that?

Assuming it has something growing in it:
I'm not sure, but I think wild yeast typically need to come from the outside air. Its more likely that if the beer is infected by lactobacillus from the air inside your house. Not good.

 

[smizak]

It definitely could be wild yeast. It could also be enterobacter. There are some threads on this forum about beers brewed with wild yeast.

 

[autoferret]

I have 5 beers sitting here. Yesterday when i went to bed it didn't have any thing on top no foam no nothen. This morning the airlock is moven and theres about a 1" of foam on it.

I'm thinking of pitching the starter i have on top and see what it does

 

[autoferret]

I got my high power flash light out and was looking at it and i see a ton of CO2 bubbles floating up....

Just dont know if i should pitch my yeast or dump and brew again....

 

[shortyjacobs]

Weird...well, what's the worst that can happen if you let it go? Maybe you have good yeast floating around in your house?

 

[Danbreeze]

Just dont know if i should pitch my yeast or dump and brew again....

Do not dump! Pitch the yeast and see what happens.

I may be wrong, but I think while the yeast you pitch is fermenting it will help clear out other bacteria in the carboy, considering it is not too infected.

 

[RogueVassar]

Do not dump! Pitch the yeast and see what happens.

I may be wrong, but I think while the yeast you pitch is fermenting it will help clear out other bacteria in the carboy, considering it is not too infected.

I agree. Pitch and let it ferment and see what happens.

 

[broadbill]

Do not dump! Pitch the yeast and see what happens.

I may be wrong, but I think while the yeast you pitch is fermenting it will help clear out other bacteria in the carboy, considering it is not too infected.

Yeast doubling time is 1.5-2 hours
Bacteria doubling time is 20-30 minutes.

Yeast don't have a chance, especially if the bacteria have started first.

That being said, I say pitch anyway and see what happens. Not because I think the yeast will make a possible bacterial contamination better, but because you have invested the time/money, the starter is ready, and it doesn't cost anything to let this one ride out. My prediction is that you have a dumper though...I hope I'm wrong...sorry.

 

[DrawTap88]

Before you do anything, give it a taste test. If it tastes decent (no off flavors so far) pitch and let it ride. If it already has some horrible horrible off flavors, dump it.

 

[autoferret]

I'm going to pitch and see... never know but what is bugging me is i took it from out side and put it with the others w/ a airlock till i was ready to pitch.

 

[beeber]

I agree with the taste test.

 

[Token]

I have 5 beers sitting here. Yesterday when i went to bed it didn't have any thing on top no foam no nothen. This morning the airlock is moven and theres about a 1" of foam on it.

I'm thinking of pitching the starter i have on top and see what it does

I vote you just let it go and see what happens.

 

[COLObrewer]

I wouldn't pitch new yeast on it. It's obviously fermenting, welcome to wild yeast fermentation and now you have your own actual house yeast.

 

[brodie113]

Yeah, let it ride.

Do you have an idea of the source of the contamination? I assume you'll want to get that under control at some point...right?

 

[dragonlor20]

I don't think it is necessarily a contamination. Maybe all of the yeast didn't get properly cleaned from the last go-round in that fermenter? Definitely don't dump it, but you can either pitch your yeast and see how the yeast already actively fermenting do alongside the second strain or you could let it ride as is.

Personally, I would pitch the additional yeast just to see if you can get some alcohol built up in the beer quicker, as either way SOMETHING has gotten in your beer and will quickly take over, be it yeast or bacteria.

Good experiment though either way, and who knows, maybe you will like what you come out with.

 

[jmf143]

I have no scientific basis for saying this so its little more than a stab in the dark, but if your wort was cold when you aerated it, and now its warm, could air be coming out of solution and bubbling to the surface?

 

[autoferret]

I have no scientific basis for saying this so its little more than a stab in the dark, but if your wort was cold when you aerated it, and now its warm, could air be coming out of solution and bubbling to the surface?

that could very well be. didn't want to go threw the process to steralize my racking cane so i just pitch and will let ride for a week or 2 and then i'll taste and see how it is. it smells like beer so we'll see.

 

[bgruis]

This happened to me once and it freaked me out big time.

Then it dawned on me, as a homebrewer I on average have 4 beers puffing away in carboys...and what are those carboys full of pray tell...Beer..with lots of little yeastie beasties. As mentioned before..I would pitch on top of it and realize it's probably going to be a one of a kind beer.

Prost from sunny Johnstown Colorado

 

[dawgman]

I want to know how this one turns out. keep us posted.

 

[Token]

that could very well be. didn't want to go threw the process to steralize my racking cane so i just pitch and will let ride for a week or 2 and then i'll taste and see how it is. it smells like beer so we'll see.

So, even though it was already fermenting, you added more yeast?