Sour starter mold

[armedcor]

Hey guys

Last weekend I built up a 2.5 litre starter and put it into a demi John. I then over the course of the weekend added the dregs of a few lambics and sours, some limited editions and rare enough bottles.

I just got home for the weekend and decided to have a look. There's definitely activity, the airlock is bubbling away, but there is one tiny floater on top which looks suspiciously like white mold. Is this harmful? Have I just wasted a load of great bottle dregs?

[armedcor]

Crappy picture I realise but it's the best of a Crappy bunch!

[nigel_c]

The bugs will build a layer called a pellicle which is to protect it from the outside world. Give it a Google and see if it matches what you have.

[armedcor]

Yea I'm used to pellicles. I have a lambic and a flanders red that I used commercial strains on which are doing alright. Could possibly be the start of a pellicle it's just very lose and floating around.

[Simon_]

There's a Facebook group for sour enthuasiasts called 'milk the funk'. It's full of sour brewers and biochemists. If you take better pictures and post it there you'll get a more considered response than here

[Leann ull]

Pellicle Porn, Great!

[armedcor]

Definitely mold...new bits of white and the top of the main chunk is turning green. Real musty smell from the starter as well. I'm going to let it ride as I won't be home for 2 months but it's most definitely a dumper.

A very expensive shame.