Tagged Questions

3
votes
1answer
63 views

Making a starter without DME?

Planning to start to use liquid yeasts and will need to do some starters. It is hard to get hold of DME over here (I can get some hopped LME, though). I was thinking on doing a starter from grains, ...
3
votes
2answers
143 views

Rescuing a weak lager fermentation

I'm currently fermenting a spiced dark lager with an original gravity of 1.064. I began fermentation 2 weeks ago today with a White Labs 830 yeast that I made a starter with. The yeast was a bit old, ...
2
votes
2answers
107 views

Pitching yeast the next day?

If I wake up and decide to brew an impromptu batch, can I begin a starter at the same time and just pitch the next day? Seems comparable to no-chill brewing as far as contamination concerns, though ...
7
votes
3answers
227 views

What is the minimum amount of time required for a yeast starter?

It is generally advised to leave a yeast starter for at least 24 hours to get optimal yeast growth. If I only have a few hours, is there any point making a starter from my liquid yeast pack? Is ...
3
votes
1answer
214 views

How do you harvest yeast from a commercial beer?

I've done yeast starters and I've re-used yeast beds but I have never previously harvested or captured yeast from a commercial beer. I tried it last night, inventing my process as I went but I'm ...
2
votes
1answer
138 views

Use of servomyces in a yeast starter

1 servomyces capsule is the correct dose for 5 galons of wort. If I want to add servomyces to my 1.5 litre yeast starter should i break open the capsule and use only part of it? or is it safe to add ...
0
votes
0answers
33 views

Reusing vs using new yeast [duplicate]

Possible Duplicate: How many times can yeast be reused? I have read in a couple of places that you should only reuse yeast a couple of times - most say up to 5 times because you would get ...
2
votes
2answers
442 views

Yeast Starter with Dry Yeast (S-04)

I know the common wisdom is you shouldn't do this, but I am brewing two mid-to-high gravity beers on Saturday (1.065 and 1.072), and only have one packet. I am now chilling a 2L starter that I was ...
4
votes
2answers
157 views

Making a starter when reusing yeast

I want to reuse the washed yeast from a previous batch of beer in my next batch. Should I make a starter for it? If so, how much of it? I looked at MrMalty, and it seems to me they tell me not to make ...
3
votes
3answers
205 views

What is the purpose of stepping up a starter

Very simply, what is the difference in pitching 100 billion cells into a 1L starter and into a 2, 3, 4L starter of, say 1.040 OG? I understand the logic with a 5.5 gallon batch of beer: you want ...
11
votes
1answer
184 views

Always making a starter vs. following package description

I have noticed that the smackpacks say on the package that the package is meant for a 5 gal. batch and that you should pour the pack directly into the wort. On the otherhand - nearly everyone tells ...
2
votes
2answers
222 views

Top Cropping Cell Counts

TLDR: I have no idea how much top-cropped yeast to pitch into a ~1.055 OG Octoberfest (5.5 gallons) I am planning on making an Octoberfest (late I know) on August 18th. Instead of making a boring ...
3
votes
1answer
283 views

How much yeast nutrient does starter wort need?

I am going to make a batch of wort to be stored in 1 quart jars to make starters from. I'd like to add the yeast nutrient (diammonium phosphate and yeast hulls) at this time so I don't have to mix it ...
2
votes
1answer
800 views

How do I know when a starter has hit 'high krausen', when using a stir plate

I've been advised to pitch an alcohol tolerant yeast "at high krausen" into a barley wine where the fermentation has slowed (OG 1.101, now 1.035). But if I've got it on a stir plate, how do I know ...
5
votes
2answers
635 views

Starter Chill, Decant, Pitch - Why no problem with Temp Shock?

So an often repeated mantra for starters is to (1) make a starter, (2) let it ferment out completely, (3) chill the starter in the fridge for a day or two, then (4) pour/decant off the oxidized "beer" ...
6
votes
4answers
339 views

How to estimate yeast starter viability when using stir plate?

I have just started a transition to making yeast starters and also using a homemade stir plate and am curious how to estimate the viability of the yeast when using this method. Normally, there are ...
6
votes
2answers
106 views

Can I do a high temperature starter?

I know if you are adding the yeast directly to the wort you want to keep the temperature similar to that of your eventual fermentation temp to minimize shock to the yeast. However, I plan to make a ...
6
votes
3answers
1k views

Yeast Starter Steps

I want to make a yeast starter for a lager. I even went out and got a 3000 ml Erlenmyer Flask. According to mrmalty.com's calculator I need 506 Billion cells. With the two vials of White Labs yeast ...
11
votes
2answers
611 views

How do I make a Yeast Starter?

I know I should be using a Yeast Starter so that I can make sure I have enough, healthy yeast, but I've never managed to go around to it. How would I start a yeast starter? How long before brewday ...
5
votes
3answers
322 views

Should a starter be hopped?

Should I add hops to my starter recipe? I just started using starters, and I haven't been hopping them at all. I didn't even think of adding hops until I read some of the answers on this question. ...
4
votes
3answers
405 views

What is the proper method of pitching a starter?

What's the proper method of pitching a starter? Do I just pour the whole thing in or do I need to "harvest" a certain portion of it? I just started using starters (.25-.5 Gallons water + 2-4 cups ...