Fly in starter

[MilehighBrew]

Ok so yesterday I am working on making my starter and I have never had more problems. I had a couple of small boil overs from my flask on the stove, not a big deal, I then put my nottinghams yeas in water to rehydrate, then I get a massive boilover and had to soak up at least a cup of water. Things are getting worse, I then put in my stir stick to sanitize it in the boil and the thing turned into a massive fountain and I lost my whole starter batch. I clean the stove for the 3rd time and restart my boil with fresh water and DME. I get that done and I set it in the Ice bath to cool and I look at my yeast that is re-hydrating and I notice a black spot, I take off the foil and see a fly in it. Now I am pissed off as I can not go get more yeast yesterday. I decided to pitch the yeast anyway just to get the starter going and think about it while it goes.

Long story I am not feeling good about it but I want to brew today, I think I will go get 2 packs of yeast today and throw out the starter. Just looking for thoughts on if the yeast is ok or contaminated??

 

[tasq]

Personally I wouldn't risk it. I'd go with plan b. Good luck!

 

[steinsato]

Yah, I skip that starter. Flies are about as dirty as it gets.

 

[Paramecium]

Well while that is a bummer I think the real question is why were you making a starter with Nottingham anyway. From what I have read it is not necessary to make a starter with dry yeast and some say it can actually be detrimental to the overall yeast quality.

 

[samc]

As Paramecium stated - don't need starter and most certainly don't need fly starter. The beer gods were telling you that but you kept trying to beat them. Who do you think makes boil-overs happen?

Rehydrate dry yeast is good, especially Notty with the recent slow fermenting issues reported.

 

[jmo88]

The fly isn't the mistake, it's the starter with dry yeast. Starters are for liquid strains, not dry ones. Also, careful sanitizing the stir bar on the stove; people have melted them. Just soak it in a little star san. I wouldn't risk it, I'd pick up another satchet of dry yeast and rehydrate and pitch directly in the wort.

 

[indigi]

Nothing that can make you sick can survive in beer. Only a handfull of taste-altering bacteria can. Unfortunately, flies are crawling with lactobacillus and pediococcus, so unless you were planning on making a lambic or other sour beer, you'd better dump it.