yeast starter

[batkins]

I am going to brew my 2nd homebrew in a couple of days. The first one I did, I pitched the yeast directly out of the test tube. This time I was going to make a "yeast starter". If I want to brew Wednesday, and this is Tuesday afternoon, do I still have time to make one? What type of container can I do it in? What kind of water:extract ratio? I am using Wyeast 1028 London yeast.
Thanks for the help.
Cheers,
Bill :confused:

[b3s]

To make more beer, or increase the pitching rate, if the package is aged or not used right after it swells, boil a pint of wort S.G. 1.020 - 30 using 3 -4 tablespoons malt extract in 2 cups of water for 15 minutes. Cool to 75 F., add yeast and incubate for 12 hours or until high krausen

[batkins]

Can I do this in a 1-qt mason jar with an airlock stuck in a hole in the lid? I thought I would be able to sit it in a 5 gallon buck to catch any spew out of the airlock (and not make a mess). Also, is this needed for a 5 gallon brew?

[mountain beer]

I have never used a yeast starter and my beer has turned out fine. I just pitch the yeast directly into the carboy. I usually get a quick fermentation. Like I said I've had no problems doing it this way. I try to keep things simple. The more steps I have to take, I feel I may miss something.

If you do the starter, let me know how it turns out.

Mountain.

[b3s]

with dry yeast, regardless of application (i do a lot of baking) i always proof. always.

i would imagine with liquids you don't necessarily need to, but i probably would for the same reason...make sure the yeast is active before use...and to let the yeast get all nice and active and limbered up...they've been sleeping, ya know :)

[BucksBrew]

Question: What is better? A liquid yeast(pitchable tube) or a yeast starter? Cost vs. effort?

I buy my milk at a farm and you can get a nice glass jar that is 2 qts. and the top looks like it will take a bung nicely, although I haven't tried yet. And it only costs $1.00 for the jug! Beats $15 or so for a lab jar!

[Tweek]

A fast start to your fermentation is imperative. You want your chosen yeast to take control of the wort right away. If you dont get fermentation within 24 hours you can end up with off flavors. If you plan your starter correctly you will have your wort kicking off in 2 hours or so.

That is not to say that you cant just pitch your vial (or packet) straight into your beer. This has been done by many for many years with no issues (other than the occasional unviable yeast, but this is becoming more rare these days with the rising quality of homebrew shops)

As far as which is better liquid yeast vs. a starter. A healthy starter is better for your beer. But cost vs. effort the liquid yeast straight out of the vial wins. In order to make a starter you have to essentially make a tiny batch of wort (unless you use some that is already going), so that is cook it up, cool it down, sterilize equipment, pitch your yeast. Much easier to just buy the vial from the brew shop and let it get to room temp them pitch it.

I use White labs liquid yeast. I also make starters from it. Not only is this better for my beer,(I have not had any ferment problems since I have been doing this, and yes before I had- you prob will too after time) but I really enjoy it. It is sorta a primer for whats to come for me. I get to make my mini batch and watch my starter kick over. I use a gallon jug I bought at the brew store with a airlock. I also clean and sterilize the tube that the original yeast sample came in and put a bit of the starter back in at pitch time. This gives me a clean sample of yeast that I put back int he fridge so that next time I need to use that kind of yeast I dont need to buy it.

[danno]

Originally posted by Tweek
I also clean and sterilize the tube that the original yeast sample came in and put a bit of the starter back in at pitch time.

Tweek, in the Wyeast/White Labs, (Coke/Pepsi) debate, that's the best reason I've heard yet to use White Labs.... (and you meant sanitize, not sterilize, right? you're not autoclaving or anything like that, are you?)

thanks for the tip !! :cool:

[b3s]

the glass tube can be sterilized by putting it in the oven at 350F for 30 minutes. that is sterilized as in sterile.

[paul84043]

I cooked up an "Ultimate Amber Ale" last night using the Wyeast pitchable tube. We finished at 11:30, and at 4 am this morning when I got up to go to work, it was bubbling at about one a minute...I use the oxygen on all of my batches, but this is the fastest start I have had to date, 4 1/2 hours and it was probably bubbling earlier than that..