My sourdough starter smells a little alcoholic...

[Rikki Jean]

Is that okay?

I only put rye flour and water in my starter, nothing else. It's just smelled sour all week, like it should, up until this morning. It smells a little like wine.

[425lisamarie]

If it starts smelling way strong and has lots of the liquidy stuff just pour it off and add some more flour/water. If you let it go too long it gets like that.

[enchantinglysimple]

If the hooch at the top (brown liquid) is forming too quickly you may not be feeding it enough. The next time you feed it give it a cup of flour and just enough water so that it is like pancake batter.

Good Luck