Beer Forum

my question is.....when spontaneously fermented wort is done, how long would it take for the beer to start fermenting? I couldn't imagine enough yeast and bugs getting in the wort in one or two days. Do you think that the wort sits there for a week or so until it kicks up fermenting?

In Wild Brews, the author mentions a few times that the majority of the bugs and yeast that ferment a lambic tend to come from the barrels rather than the time spent in the coolship. That being the case I would imagine a spontaneously fermented wort that you or I would do without these preinoculated barrels could take quite a while to take hold.