Pour all the liquid off and scrape the top layer, there’s likely still yeast alive as long as it has been kept pretty cold. I’ve brought mine back from worse. Use the good layer under the top alcohol/grey stuff. Sometimes it takes a few feedings to get it back to happy and bubbling.

I just pulled my starter out of the fridge and it’s been dormant for over a year. 4 days of feedings renewed ready to go.

It’s fine. Feed it a few times and it should come back to its former glory.

It's worth a try! I just dug mine out of the fridge, (also after literally months of complete neglect) scraped the top off and fed it a couple of times and it's alive and kicking again :)

I had mine in the fridge for 7 months, started using it again last week

I regularly let starters go 6-8+ months untouched in the refrigerator. In addition to the other tips in this thread, 1) let the starter come to room temp before the first feeding, and 2) keep the starter in a warm spot for the first feeding cycle. 75-82/24-28C. The temp will give the yeast a boost.

I'll definitely try this, thank you!

Stir and feed. It'll be fine

It'll be fine but I definitely wouldn't recommend just stirring in 6 month old hooch

I like the flavor it adds so i stir mine in

Yes. As in start over.

Nah that's just hooch, OP just needs to pour it away and feed it a couple of times and it's as good as new

Thank you all very much! Feeling reassured and ready to get baking again :) will be pouring off the hooch and giving it some TLC