[BP79]

I made a starter last night in it appears I burnt the DME.  I placed the flask directly on the stove top as I always do, had the flame at medium as to prevent a boil-over, examined the flask this morning after putting it in the fridge, and the bottom of the yeast cake inside the flask looks like a giraffe.  Has anyone else experienced this?  And of the golden question, do I toss it? 

[Jimmy K]

I don't know. If you prepared it the way you usually do, which has worked before, seems it's just a fluke. If you're planning to decant the liquid anyway, not much to worry about the flavor of the wort. Other than the zebra stripes, is the wort darker than normal?

[BP79]

I didn't change a single step, kept the same volume of water and weight of DME, and yup, the color is the same as it always looks.  I decant the 'beer' before pitching, so I guess I shouldn't stress about it.  Thanks for the reassurance.

[Jimmy K]

That's pretty odd. You should probably have a beer.

[jeffy]

I am pretty sensitive to the burnt flavors.  If I were you I would taste the decanted starter.  If it is burnt then that flavor in the yeast will probably contribute to the flavor of the beer.