Photopilot
Well-Known Member
I am just starting to get the brewery rolling after a 2 year hiatus. I am almost out of all the beer I made 2 years previously.
I usually brew big beers in 10-12 gallon batches. Even for smaller beers in batches this size I need a significant starter. Having just watched this video http://billybrew.com/stepping-up-a-yeast-starter
I have a better understanding to the process needed to get the yeast count right. Before I just used either a 2000 ml flask on my stir plate or a gallon jug (which does not work as well) to create a larger pitch quantity.
Billy's tutorial tells how to bring the yeast cell count up to required levels with limited flask sizes. This often requires multiple step ups and decantings and repitching with diminishing returns. So I am thinking of alternate ways of accomplishing growing large quantities of yeast colonies. Start with a one gallon container of starter. Pitch the yeast vial on it and place on the stir plate. After the starter krausens, chill, decant and split half of the slurry into a second gallon starter jug, keeping half in the original. Top off both jugs to reach 1 gallon in each and let it multiply. So using the chart from the tutorial and extrapolating I can go from 1 billion yeast cells to 7 B in 2 steps.
I am looking for anyfeedback on my proposed method.
I only have one stirplate but two magnets should I alternate between the two vessels or just stirplate one and hand agitate the other?
Any idea where to get a cheap 1 gallon or larger starter vessel? The apple juice jug I have has a curved bottom making the magnet sometimes fly away from the stirring mechanism.
I usually brew big beers in 10-12 gallon batches. Even for smaller beers in batches this size I need a significant starter. Having just watched this video http://billybrew.com/stepping-up-a-yeast-starter
I have a better understanding to the process needed to get the yeast count right. Before I just used either a 2000 ml flask on my stir plate or a gallon jug (which does not work as well) to create a larger pitch quantity.
Billy's tutorial tells how to bring the yeast cell count up to required levels with limited flask sizes. This often requires multiple step ups and decantings and repitching with diminishing returns. So I am thinking of alternate ways of accomplishing growing large quantities of yeast colonies. Start with a one gallon container of starter. Pitch the yeast vial on it and place on the stir plate. After the starter krausens, chill, decant and split half of the slurry into a second gallon starter jug, keeping half in the original. Top off both jugs to reach 1 gallon in each and let it multiply. So using the chart from the tutorial and extrapolating I can go from 1 billion yeast cells to 7 B in 2 steps.
I am looking for anyfeedback on my proposed method.
I only have one stirplate but two magnets should I alternate between the two vessels or just stirplate one and hand agitate the other?
Any idea where to get a cheap 1 gallon or larger starter vessel? The apple juice jug I have has a curved bottom making the magnet sometimes fly away from the stirring mechanism.