Beer Fermenting Without Yeast

[mr.drankin]

So, I was suffering on Sunday morning and thought I would have a go at making a IPA with left over hops and grains and try out my double simcoe IPA (9% perfect for a cure )

Doing all this I forgot to make a yeast starter so put the airlock on my new beer and left it.  I made a starter last night as I think the beer was around 8-10% so I thought it would be best starting the yeast. 

I came down to pitch the yeast this morning when I noticed a bubbling noise, the beer was fermenting.  I checked the gravity and the hydrometer was down to 1.045 from around 1.070.

Is my beer ruined or what has happened. 

[Dunkel]

Sounds like either you pitched yeast and forgot due to the hangover haze, or you just made your first Lambic. 

[irish_goat]

If the gravity is down then something is fermenting it. Have a taste but I'd say you'll be lucky to get something drinkable.

Your starter mightn't even have been much use, yeast can sometimes take 8 hours to multiply so you'd have achieved very little. Why did you wait until last night to make it?

[matthewdick23]

you could be onto a winner! how is it smelling? how does it taste now?

do not throw it out yet.

matthew

[mr.drankin]

Dunkel that was the 1st thing cross my mind but im sure I didn't      

Goat was working late on Monday night so didnt get a chance to make it earlier , the yeast was actually harvested from a batch I kegged, it was vigorously fermenting and had overflowed out my flask, it looked grand so I just threw it in and hoped for the best.  I'm sure it will be drinkable fingers crossed, weather or not to dry hop in incase I waste more hops is the question.  I'm sure the smell of vomit or vinegar will be a tell tale sign 

Matt ive made sum rash drinks in my time but rarely they get thrown out, ill bottle one for the end of the month 

[TheSumOfAllBeers]

Smell it out of the airlock.

If it is anything except yeast fermenting it, it will likely smell awful.

I have had my palate and nose trained for infection, since 2 passively chilled beers got infected before pitching time.

[mr.drankin]

there was a head on it yesterday morning before I pitched yeast , I thought the beer smelt fine, I checked it last night and there's that lovely sour smell.  Ah well lesson learned....