Unidentified obj in starter

[brewmarshall]

I am stepping up the yeast from a 6er of bells two hearted. I'm concerned about infection because there is a spherical mass about half the size of a marble among the yeast. It looks like a cluster of yeast but I have never seen them together like that and I am concerned its another type of organism like mold.

Anyone know if this is normal? Don't want to contaminate a full batch- should I abort or keep on?




You can kind of see it here...

 

[pabloj13]

I didn't see that or anything like it in my Bell's yeast. I would harvest from the Pale Ale or Amber if I were you. The yeast in that THA is unhealthy, unhappy.

 

[passedpawn]

Can't see anything in that pic.

If you don't trust your starter, especially if it's grown from a bottle, don't use it. It'll just get MUCH worse once pitched on your wort.

I've had mold grow on starters from bottle dregs.

 

[brewmarshall]

Update: it's officially an unidentified "floating" object! Sorry the other pic was so bad.




Can anyone identify if this is a mold or other infection? If I can't get a sure response I will just toss it.

 

[cscade]

Mold! Run away!

I'm not positive it's mold. Could be something else. One thing for sure is that it's not yeast.

Yeast does not create a cat toy in your starter

 

[brewmarshall]

At least I'm learning now rather than 5 weeks from now. I will be more careful about collecting samples next time.

 

[pabloj13]

All I know is that we sometimes see stuff like that growing in our culture media in lab. When we do, we autoclave the crap out of it and throw it away. I would not use that.

 

[cscade]

At least I'm learning now rather than 5 weeks from now. I will be more careful about collecting samples next time.

Based strictly on color, I'm guessing you used standard ~1.040 wort for the starter. Next time you're culturing something from a bottle, consider using a lower gravity wort in a lesser volume first, and then step up to standard starter wort ~24 hours later. A higher ratio of your desired yeast cells vs. volume & sugar will help your culture exclude other critters you don't want.

Edit: I said 24 hours later above, but you may want to wait longer between steps if you're not using a stir plate. I have always used one so my experience is different.

 

[Polboy]

i wouldnt use it, heck i wouldnt even drink it if i would see something like that in my beer (and i drink almost everything beerlike)

 

[Pezman1]

Death Star?

 

[brewmarshall]

Yeah, I actually poured off the "death star" like I was decanting- since it floated- and I looked at my doubled yeast and considered keeping the yeast and imagining I never saw anyone unusual... But then I reconsidered and flushed them away.


Wife's going to Mich next weekend... So I'll try again with another batch of Bells

Thanks for the help guys, the first step is admitting you have a problem.

 

[pabloj13]

Yeah, I actually poured off the "death star" like I was decanting- since it floated- and I looked at my doubled yeast and considered keeping the yeast and imagining I never saw anyone unusual... But then I reconsidered and flushed them away.


Wife's going to Mich next weekend... So I'll try again with another batch of Bells

Thanks for the help guys, the first step is admitting you have a problem.

Ask her to pick up some Amber or Pale Ale. Lots of folks have had good luck with those, myself included.