Hot-side aeration in starter wort...problem?

greg75 · 10-29-2006, 02:53 AM

I made a starter for the first time today, with a starter kit I ordered from Austin Homebrew supply. Well, their instructions say to boil three cups of water in a pot, turn off the heat, add the yeast fuel and about1 cup of light DME, and bring back to a boil for 10-15 minutes. After this, they instruct transferring the hot wort into a 1L erlenmeyer flask, and then putting the flask in an ice bath.

Well, I did exactly that. And, wouldn't you know, it occured to me while pouring the wort mixture into the flask through a funnel...I'm splashing hot wort.

Well, I added the yeast anyway (I suppose I could have dumped the wort and started over, but I guess I was feeling too lazy at the time).

Should I be concerned? I should have gone with my gut, and what I've read on 100 other sites, and just boiled everything in the flask. It would have been much easier. Live and learn, right?

dantodd · 10-29-2006, 03:00 AM

The splashing should be fine for a starter, it will help the yeast reproduce quickly. They should consume most of the O2 before oxidation takes place. If you are decanting the expended wort off of the yeast it is even less important.

greg75 · 10-29-2006, 04:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dantodd

The splashing should be fine for a starter, it will help the yeast reproduce quickly. They should consume most of the O2 before oxidation takes place. If you are decanting the expended wort off of the yeast it is even less important.

Cool. After making the initial post, I was thinking about it, and really, it's less than 1 quart of wort being added to 5.25 gallons of what I'm brewing tomorrow. Any effects should be minimal, I would think.

I would like to decant as you suggested, however tomorrow is the only opportunity I'll have to brew for quite some time. Due to these time constraints I'm going to have to pitch the whole works tomorrow.

chillHayze · 10-29-2006, 10:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by greg75

Cool. After making the initial post, I was thinking about it, and really, it's less than 1 quart of wort being added to 5.25 gallons of what I'm brewing tomorrow. Any effects should be minimal, I would think.

I would like to decant as you suggested, however tomorrow is the only opportunity I'll have to brew for quite some time. Due to these time constraints I'm going to have to pitch the whole works tomorrow.

Don't decant the wort if you are brewing today! There is still good yeast in suspension that you will pour out if you decant. Either wait another 2 days for it to ferment out or pitch the entire thing today. The 700mL in your starter won't affect the other 20L noticably.

greg75 · 10-29-2006, 12:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chillHayze

Don't decant the wort if you are brewing today! There is still good yeast in suspension that you will pour out if you decant. Either wait another 2 days for it to ferment out or pitch the entire thing today. The 700mL in your starter won't affect the other 20L noticably.

That was my intention, to pitch everything today. I realize I can't decant yet.

It's funny. I made the startter about 15 hours ago, and there's no krausening yet. There is airlock activity, but not a lot. I really thought fermentation would be taking off by now. In fact, I'm not really comfortable enough to start brewing until there's more vigorous activity in the flask.

I guess I'll just wait until after the Packer game before I get this thing going. I was hoping to sneak in the brewing before kickoff...

**Baron von BeeGee** · 10-29-2006, 02:55 PM

You frequently won't see signs of "vigorous" fermentation in a starter wort, and other times you will. I wouldn't postpone brewing based on what you're seeing.

Beer Weevel · 10-29-2006, 03:09 PM

Often I've seen little or very little activity in my yeast starters. I cultured a American Ale II yeast from Wyeast and it had very, very little acitvity, Wellllll...... I pitched it anyway and I saw fermintation activity within 4 hours and It exceeded the abitlity of the 1 inch blow off tube to keep up, when fermentation conclueded I had about 1/2 inch of yeast in the bottom of the air lock. So lack of activity in your starter does'nt always mean much.

greg75 · 10-29-2006, 04:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smogman

Often I've seen little or very little activity in my yeast starters. I cultured a American Ale II yeast from Wyeast and it had very, very little acitvity, Wellllll...... I pitched it anyway and I saw fermintation activity within 4 hours and It exceeded the abitlity of the 1 inch blow off tube to keep up, when fermentation conclueded I had about 1/2 inch of yeast in the bottom of the air lock. So lack of activity in your starter does'nt always mean much.

Alright, I think my starter is starting to prove what you guys are saying. There is definite activity, there's bubbles floating to the surface of the wort, and airlock activity every 15 seconds or so. There is a nice bed on the bottom of the flask, as well Yet, there's no krausening like I anticipated. Regardless, I'm confident enough that the yeast is indeed propagating. Thanks for the help!

chillHayze · 10-29-2006, 08:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by greg75

Alright, I think my starter is starting to prove what you guys are saying. There is definite activity, there's bubbles floating to the surface of the wort, and airlock activity every 15 seconds or so. There is a nice bed on the bottom of the flask, as well Yet, there's no krausening like I anticipated. Regardless, I'm confident enough that the yeast is indeed propagating. Thanks for the help!

Give a swirl every few minutes if you are around. That will help keep yeast in suspension.