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**nickmv** · 03-20-2013, 12:40 PM

All-Grain brewers -- do you freezer your wort and store it for your starters? I got into a discussion with someone last night and they think that there are few AG brewers who DONT do this. I think the exact opposite -- there are way more that make starters from extract or from "live", recently cooled wort (NOT previously frozen).

Please vote, I'd like to get an idea just out of curiosity.

Zamial · 03-20-2013, 12:46 PM

No way. The bags leak and you end up with a sticky mess in the freezer. Ask me how I know... If you want to save wort get a pressure cooker w/ a 15# weight and can it. Then you can store them in your cupboard.

**fpweeks** · 03-20-2013, 12:48 PM

i do occasionally.....never had a problem so far.....

**nickmv** · 03-20-2013, 12:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zamial

No way. The bags leak and you end up with a sticky mess in the freezer. Ask me how I know... If you want to save wort get a pressure cooker w/ a 15# weight and can it. Then you can store them in your cupboard.

Interesting. Also, what do you mean the BAGS leak? You were thinking I meant store wort in bags? Honestly, that was never what I meant. I'm guessing the guy I was debating with meant storing in a borosilicate flask or other hard storage structure.

But yeah.....BAGS......yikes.

**nickmv** · 03-20-2013, 12:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fpweeks

i do occasionally.....never had a problem so far.....

Gotcha. Yeah I'm sure it's safe if you take precautions and make sure it's really sealed, but it's just.......weird, if you ask me. So when this guy told me that I'd be hard pressed to find an AG brewer who doesn't, I immediately disagreed, strongly. I'm sure it works out fine for him, and for you, but it just seems really strange, and I don't personally think that many people do it. So far my poll verifies that opinion, but we're 5 mins in so we'll see.

RatchetBrews · 03-20-2013, 12:53 PM

I don't freeze wort, doesn't make sense to do so. I make a batch of starter wort a week even if I'm not brewing. I just can it and put it in the fridge.

**E-Mursed** · 03-20-2013, 01:04 PM

Pressure canning...best method.

joyceman · 03-20-2013, 01:17 PM

yep, just pop it in an old pepsi bottle and freeze till needed.

**RmikeVT** · 03-20-2013, 01:25 PM

Am I the only dummy that makes a starter from DME, boils, cools and pitches yeast each time? The whole process takes, maybe 20 minutes depending on how long it takes to get to pitching temperature. And at $13.50 for a 3 lb bag of DME we are talking $0.28 an ounce. So, a $1 to $2 per starter and not having to have canned/bagged wort stashed throughout the house is fine with me.

What are the 'best practice' methods for storing/making starters in advance?

**climateboy** · 03-20-2013, 01:33 PM

What I've been doing to great effect is planning for extra wort, maybe a half gallon or so, and collecting that in Ball jars instead of putting in the fermenter. Then, while I'm cooling, cleaning, etc., I put the jars in a pot of water, with enough water to cover them. I make sure they get a full boil for 15 minutes, take them out to cool (canning tongs are very helpful), and boom--sterilized wort, ready for my next starter. Starters should have a gravity of about 1.045, so if you are making a higher gravity wort, dilute in the jars before boiling.