Using wild yeast.

[beerkench]

I filled a of mason jar with some of the cold break/hop sludge left in the kettle from a brew day and left it out in my barn for around 24 hours. I then put the lid on and after a few days it started fermenting like a beast. I then pitched this into 2 gallons of 1.035 run off wort that I'd saved and boiled up from another batch.

It's now fermenting away nicely in my cellar. It doesn't smell great to be honest but it doesn't smell off either. I would describe it has dank and earthy.
Has anybody else got any decent results doing some small scale spontaneous fermentations this way?

 

[Funkychef]

Ive done the same thing but grabbed a hand full of berries of my tree and dumped it into a jar of 1.030 wort but it has a nice fruity small next is to step it up and test batch.

I would let it ferment out for a couple of weeks then have another look at it if it smells ok and looks ok have a taste. If it tasts bad dump it and try again if you like the taste save it!

 

[beergolf]

It is a crap shoot on what you will get. I did it with three jars of wort in my yard. One was a hig fail, the second fermented out but would not drop out of suspension. The third was a big success. I am still using thatbyeast a few years later.

Here is a write up of my experience.

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/showthread.php?t=419725

 

[beerkench]

Interesting write up you did there, especially as you're still using the yeast.
Did it smell fruity from the get go?

In my case the jars without hops went mouldy after a few days while the ones with hops ferment.

 

[beergolf]

Interesting write up you did there, especially as you're still using the yeast.
Did it smell fruity from the get go?

In my case the jars without hops went mouldy after a few days while the ones with hops ferment.

Yes it smelled very fruity sfter about a week fermenting. It has turned out to be a great yeast. I have made about 7 or 8 batches with it.

The way I look at it is, it is worth a try. If it does not work not big deal. I found it amazing that with three tries within about 50 feet of each other all got different results.

I am planning on trying it again this fall when the weather cools.