BrooZer

Recipes 

Hey all, I just received a liberty ale clone extract kit from AHS yesterday. I want to brew tomorrow. I have never used liquid yeast before. The kit came with white labs California ale and some yeast fuel. The tube says I can pitch with out a starter but recommends one for beers over 1.070 OG.

This beer is 1.068 OG. Is it vital to make a starter? I would prefer not too because I dont have a jar with airlock or any DME. Plus I want to brew tomorrow.

If it is necessary I will get the equipment and wait to brew until this weekend.


Any opinions are greatly appreciated!!

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Torchiest

Recipes 

You don't have to, but it really helps to shorten your lag time and give you a good vigorous fermentation. Liquid yeasts without starters can take a couple days to get rolling sometimes.

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BrooZer

Recipes 

What about with the added yest fuel.

Also, how long should the starter sit after fermentation begins?

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TheJadedDog

Recipes 

Starters are not absolutely necessary, just don't worry if it takes a few days for fermentation to begin.

If you do make one, I would recommend making it at least 48 hours before brewing although lots of folks only give it 24. I have used both White Labs and Wyeast and have never used the yeast fuel in my starters with no ill effects.

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Torchiest

Recipes 

I've never used yeast fuel, so I don't really know how that would affect things. I usually make my starter two days before I brew. The California is a pretty good yeast, though, so you might not need to worry about it. Some belgian yeasts and wheat yeasts start REALLY slowly without a starter to get them going, but I think that one is probably good on its own.

__________________
WORLD DOMINATION BEER
Bottled:
#35 Gold Standard Ale
#42 The Answer
Kegged:
#44 Donner & Blitzkrieg 2011
Up Next:
#46 Genocider
#47 Evil Weevil Wheat
#48 Nuclear Summer Stout

Reidman

Recipes 

I used white labs California ale yeast and it took close to 36 hrs to start vigorous fermentation at 68 degrees. Not sure why it took so long but the LHBS guy said he makes starters for all his batches regardless of what it is "just because". I will probably take his advice and do the same.

Can't hurt anything to use a starter unless you slide on sanitization practices.

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Whelk

Recipes 

Starters also improve flavor, since the yeast from a starter is much less stressed than yeast pitched right into wort. It's not absolutely necessary, but it does help.

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BrooZer

Recipes 

[QUOTE=I have used both White Labs and Wyeast and have never used the yeast fuel in my starters with no ill effects.[/QUOTE]

Im not sure i understand this part. Are you saying the yeast fuel has ill effects? The wording is throwing me off a bit.

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GoatFarmersInternational

Recipes 

He's not saying the yeast fuel has ill effects. You have it, so go ahead and use it as prescibed. Don't worry about not ahving a starter this time, but next time give it a try. It is easy, will cut down fermentation time, and generally improve your beers.

Whelk

Recipes 

I think Torchiest is saying that the LACK of yeast fuel hasn't seemed to be a problem.

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Nothing until I figure out if I can make it happen over in the UK.