Kokopuff829
Well-Known Member
Do you have to use DME for starters or could I use sugar or a substitute?
MazdaMatt said:In the 8 batches of beer that I've done (newb), I've always started with sugar and never had inactive yeast.
It is amazing what you can get away with... conversely, it is amazing what I'm reading on this forum that you can't get away with, if you're willing to look at it like that.
Toga said:I make my starters in an old glass jug and use a stopper + airlock to treat it just as I would if it were a batch of my favorite brew.
If you have a local home brew shop go pick up some DME. Grab a few pounds of extra light to keep on hand.
Prepare the Starter Wort
First thing's first, we're going to need some wort to use in our starter. By far, the best food for yeast that is going to be consuming wort in the very near future is, you guessed it, wort. I say this because you may, at some point, have the idea that you can just use table sugar for your starter. This is a bad idea because the yeast will become accustomed to consuming the simple sugars in table sugar and when it's time to eat up all those beer sugars (maltose, etc.) they will not take to the idea very well and may drop out of the fermentation before the job is done. Think of this as having to drink a Bud after having a great, homebrewed beer - you wouldn't want that and, in a way, it's the same with the yeast.
The best source of easy-to-prepare wort is dried malt extract (DME.) You will need enough DME to prepare a starter of about 1.040 OG. A higer gravity, regardless of the beer you're going to make, is not better as the higher gravity will stress the yeast more than is needed for simple propagation and will leave your yeast in bad condition for the fermentation itself. To achieve the proper gravity, you will need about 6oz (by weight) of DME for every 2 quarts of water1. That equates to roughly 3oz. of DME for every 1000ml of starter water you use.
Revvy said:I just love the one guy who gives you bad advice that you happen to agree with "II use sugar all the time yadda yadda yadda" is the one you listen to?
Why the hell do you waste our time then, and just do what you want?
Other people have given you the REAL REASONs why it's not a good idea, but that doesn't suit you.
Rather than simple sugar, or just jumping on the one that agrees with you, why don't you look on here for alternatives to waiting for dme, RATHER than using something that is not good for your beer? Because he agrees with you?!?
find the nearest Mexican grocery or even the nearest big box grocery store (like Meijer's) that has an "international foods" aisle and look for Malta Goya
Or Malta India
Quite a few people use it as a starter....It is pretty much just a lightly hopped, carbonated wort. Some people just stir it to release the co2, others bring to a boil and other's just bring it pasturizing temps. ANd then pitch the yeast.
There's a few threads on here about malta goya starters, both here and on other boards (google it)...and we even talked about it in the GAP (Grocery and produce challenge thread)
Another option is to have him head to a bed bath and beyond or even a big box store that might carry mr beer refill packs and buy one of them...he can use the can of LME as his starter extract.
But really why waste our time bothering to ask, is in truth all you're asking for is a rationalization for your bad brewing behavior???
jaycount said:What kind of recipe are you brewing? If it isn't high gravity (>1.060) and its fresh yeast then why not just skip the starter and pitch it out of the pack? Id do that before I'd make a starter with simple sugar...
lou2row said:why are so many of these from people from ohio?
"head hung in shame smiley"
Ok I thought there might be other people who agree if you ask random people a question and they all say the same answer that doesn't mean it's the right I was just making sure. And I must not be wasting your time because if your time is so valuable then you wouldn't of posted on this thread or any threads and you would be spending your time somewhere else where it's not being "wasted".
Ok I thought there might be other people who agree if you ask random people a question and they all say the same answer that doesn't mean it's the right I was just making sure. And I must not be wasting your time because if your time is so valuable then you wouldn't of posted on this thread or any threads and you would be spending your time somewhere else where it's not being "wasted".
I dare you to ask whether there is any benefit to extended time in the primary.
Someone out there will tell you it is okay to:
-use sugar for starters
-bottle in two liter clear bottles
-use bleach instead of buying star san
there is a difference between possible and recommended.
I gotta say... I've read about the concept of group-think developing on forums and I've seen it on exercise-related forums, but MAN is it strong in this place.
Guy asks if it is okay to do something less than recommended
Antoher guy says he's done it a bunch of times without failure but is a newb
Guy says, okay, cool I'll try that due to limited resources
Everyone $#!ts a brick.
You people have got to take things less personally and stop confusing "I've done it and it works" with "this is how you ought to do it".
What gets me is that it is later suggested that he just pitch dry instead of mixing up a little bit of sugar water to get things started and nobody has a problem with that... crazy.
Evaluate your level of group-think, people. There is more than black and white in this world. One is not stupid for doing slightly less than the best possible option in the world.
I gotta say... I've read about the concept of group-think developing on forums and I've seen it on exercise-related forums, but MAN is it strong in this place.
Guy asks if it is okay to do something less than recommended
Antoher guy says he's done it a bunch of times without failure but is a newb
Guy says, okay, cool I'll try that due to limited resources
Everyone $#!ts a brick.
You people have got to take things less personally and stop confusing "I've done it and it works" with "this is how you ought to do it".
What gets me is that it is later suggested that he just pitch dry instead of mixing up a little bit of sugar water to get things started and nobody has a problem with that... crazy.
Evaluate your level of group-think, people. There is more than black and white in this world. One is not stupid for doing slightly less than the best possible option in the world.
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