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Starter smells sour - should I dump it?

Yeast & Fermentation
#1

I made my first 2L starter with 1056 a day and a half ago and just went to cold crash it in the fridge. To my surprise, the starter has a strange sour smell to it. Almost like it has apple cider in it. None of my 1L starters have smelled like this. Should I dump it and pick up a new smack pack? I cleaned and sanitized everything as usual, so not sure where I went wrong, but this starter definitely doesn’t smell like others I’ve made. Just wondering if off flavors are common for bigger starters or if you all agree I should dump it.

Thanks

#2

Hard to say based on smell. My starters usually smell a bit like sour apple juice. It’s just the smell of nasty oxidized beer. I would say you are fine.

#3

Hmmm. That’s pretty much what mine smells like. It’s kinda like apple juice, but with green apples. Sour and cidery. It’s not pungent or anything. Just noticeable with a good whiff.

#4

I would agree with this, but if it worries you and you don’t have time for a new starter, just use a pack or two of S-05. Same yeast, more cells, different lab.

#5

Thanks. I contemplated picking up a pack or two of US-05, but I think I’ll just use this starter and see what happens. I’m actually curious to see how it turns out. I’ll post an update on this thread in a few weeks when all is said and done.

#6

I’ve had the same thing happen to my starters. some smell really strange ,others like malty beer.
never had a bad one yet, knock on wood. let us know if it gos good or bad. thanks.

#7

[quote=“grainy”]I’ve had the same thing happen to my starters. some smell really strange ,others like malty beer.
never had a bad one yet, knock on wood. let us know if it gos good or bad. thanks.[/quote]

same here. Remember you are growing yeast, not making beer. Not always going to smell like (good) beer.

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