I'm targeting 1.060 OG for my next brew, which will be an American stout. I will be using Wyeast 1450 Denny's Favorite 50. I have one Activator pack manufactured Sept 6, 2011. This will be a 10 gallon brew. I don't have a stirplate yet or an O2 system (will be buying both soon, but not in time for this brew) so I'll be using my typical "intermittant shaking" method for my starter.
I always make a starter, but I usually just make a single step 1500 ml starter about a day before pitching, so I'm pretty sure I'm always underpitching my 10 gallon batches. I want to correct that this time and pitch the right amount of yeast.
Mr. Malty calculator says for my yeast date, volume, OG, yeast production date, and method, I need to start with 2 activator packs and an 8.56 liter starter. That's with the "growth factor" slider all the way to the right.
I only have 1 pack of yeast and a 2000ml Erlenmeyer flask. That size flask is only good for a 1.5 liter starter, roughly. I have a gallon jug which I think would accommodate a 2.5 liter starter, maybe a bit moer. Or a 5 gallon carboy.
I don't have a brew day picked yet, so I'm flexible on the length of time required, but I can't go pick up another pack of yeast until the weekend, and I want to get started tomorrow. How can I go about stepping up this single Activator pack to the required 417 billion cells efficiently?
I always make a starter, but I usually just make a single step 1500 ml starter about a day before pitching, so I'm pretty sure I'm always underpitching my 10 gallon batches. I want to correct that this time and pitch the right amount of yeast.
Mr. Malty calculator says for my yeast date, volume, OG, yeast production date, and method, I need to start with 2 activator packs and an 8.56 liter starter. That's with the "growth factor" slider all the way to the right.
I only have 1 pack of yeast and a 2000ml Erlenmeyer flask. That size flask is only good for a 1.5 liter starter, roughly. I have a gallon jug which I think would accommodate a 2.5 liter starter, maybe a bit moer. Or a 5 gallon carboy.
I don't have a brew day picked yet, so I'm flexible on the length of time required, but I can't go pick up another pack of yeast until the weekend, and I want to get started tomorrow. How can I go about stepping up this single Activator pack to the required 417 billion cells efficiently?