How much time does a yeast starter really need?

CornyKegs 728
Homebrew Talk - Beer, Wine, Mead, & Cider Brewing Discussion Forum

Help Support Homebrew Talk - Beer, Wine, Mead, & Cider Brewing Discussion Forum:

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.
k2brew

k2brew

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jul 31, 2009
Messages
109
Reaction score
1
Location
Cincinnati
So I was going to brew on Sunday, but I have to do it tonight after work due to the SWMBO's edict. I was going to make a starter from some washed Kolsh yeast for my Oktoberfest Ale tonight, but now I have to accelerate it. The question is; will a 6 hour old starter provide enough yeast to adequately pitch 5 gal? (Note I have 4 pint mason jars with about 1/2 inch of slurry in each so I could maybe use two?)

If not I can stop at my LHBS on the way home and pick up a pack of dry yeast. In this case does anyone have a recommendation for a clean yeast that is similar to a lager, but ferments around 64 degrees? I suppose I could ask them, but would like to have an idea before I go in.

Thanks!
 
what is your expected OG? that will tell you if you really need a starter especially with dry yeast

I know that it is good to use it... but basically that is too short to really get full use out of the starter.... if you do that, i would definately recommend not decanting the wort on top and pitch the whole thing as a lot of yeast will still be in suspension and you will be throwing your best and most active yeast away when you poor off the wort.
 
but to stress, what is your OG and use Mr Maltys calculator to determine if you need it or not. Unless you are over 1.05 you really dont need it.
 
I don't know that 6 hours does you much good, really. It certainly won't hurt, and you never know just how quickly that yeast might take off, but I wouldn't count on it. Since you have the extra yeast, you certainly aren't stuck. Pitch two of the jars, and go to bed.


TL
 
if you can stop by the LHBS why not just pick up two liquid yeast and directly pitch. Here its a time vs value of money thing, you are out of time and need to get the brew done.Or like Texlaw said pitch a couple of the pints and call it good.
 
k2brew said:
So I was going to brew on Sunday, but I have to do it tonight after work due to the SWMBO's edict. I was going to make a starter from some washed Kolsh yeast for my Oktoberfest Ale tonight, but now I have to accelerate it. The question is; will a 6 hour old starter provide enough yeast to adequately pitch 5 gal? (Note I have 4 pint mason jars with about 1/2 inch of slurry in each so I could maybe use two?)

If not I can stop at my LHBS on the way home and pick up a pack of dry yeast. In this case does anyone have a recommendation for a clean yeast that is similar to a lager, but ferments around 64 degrees? I suppose I could ask them, but would like to have an idea before I go in.

Thanks!
Click to expand...

what are you making? An Ale or a lager?
 
It is an Oktoberfest Ale. The first one I brewed was the best one I have done so far and I used a Kolsh liquid yeast, but the dang thing was like $8.00. So I don't want to spend that much again when I have it sitting in my fridge.

Lets see OG should be around 1.044-1.046 depending on my mini-mash efficiency.
 
k2brew said:
It is an Oktoberfest Ale. The first one I brewed was the best one I have done so far and I used a Kolsh liquid yeast, but the dang thing was like $8.00. So I don't want to spend that much again when I have it sitting in my fridge.

Lets see OG should be around 1.044-1.046 depending on my mini-mash efficiency.
Click to expand...

If you are doing an Otoberfest Ale then I would go with Safale s-04 if you dry . That's what I use . I use Beirmunchers recipe and its always good in fact I have 10 gallons conditioning right now.

if not pitch two of more of the pints
 
Do you happen to have BM's recipe that you could PM me? I'd like to benchmark against it. I did the same thing for my dunkelweizen and was almost spot on to a Schneiderweisse Dunkelweizen clone recipe.
 

Similar threads

B
Yeast Scientists: Why not create yeast collections before brewing?
Replies
2
Views
380
McMullan
McMullan
khannon
About to can some wort for starters and I had a thought...
Replies
4
Views
373
khannon
khannon
B
Harvested Yeast Starter For Bottling Smells Like Vinegar
Replies
7
Views
1K
fluketamer
F
W
Wort Lag Time Concern
Replies
11
Views
778
WhiteMike81
W
O
Capturing and Reusing Yeast from a Conical
Replies
10
Views
2K
Neldog0
N
InkBird 300

Latest posts

Back
Top