I want to make a starter for 5 Gals. of OG 1.068. It's a Leffe Clone with Wyeast 1762 Belgian Abbey II. I only have 1 stir plate and 2 1L Flasks. Mr. Malty calls for 1.2 Liters of starter. Should I go with just a 1L starter, or use a larger container. Or is there a way to "split" the starter batch. I really want to use my flask(s) to boil, chill, start! Any help will be greatly appreciated. This is the first time I've ever tried a starter.
Starter Predicament
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JMSetzler
Well-Known Member
Make a 1L starter.
I wouldn't try boiling a 1L starter in anything smaller than a 2L flask (unless you use Fermcap-s (or similar).
I don't think that MrMalty's calculator takes the effect of a stir plate into account. (You can get a very much higher concentration of yeast cells with a stir plate than without.
I'd go with a 500 - 750ML starter, or push it up to say 900 if you have the Fermcap-s
-a.
I don't think that MrMalty's calculator takes the effect of a stir plate into account. (You can get a very much higher concentration of yeast cells with a stir plate than without.
I'd go with a 500 - 750ML starter, or push it up to say 900 if you have the Fermcap-s
-a.
I was able to boil 1L with the help of Fermcap. It's cooling right now. No boil overs, but real close! I guess I'll have to spring for a 2L flask, but it seems that for .2 liters.....I don't know. I don't think that I am "grossly" underpitching with what I have. And who knows, I may be brewing 10 gallons or more in the future.
You'll make more yeast by starting with a 1/2L starter, then stepping it up to a full 1L in 2 days.
Go to Wyeast labs and play with their calculator, which lets you see the benefit of doing it this way.
Go to Wyeast labs and play with their calculator, which lets you see the benefit of doing it this way.
that you could only expect a certain level of cell count with a given amount of wort.
"The minimum starter size for significant yeast growth from a vial or pack of yeast is 1 liter. One vial or pack into 1 liter results in approximately a 50% increase in cell mass." from MrMalty.
"The minimum starter size for significant yeast growth from a vial or pack of yeast is 1 liter. One vial or pack into 1 liter results in approximately a 50% increase in cell mass." from MrMalty.
RunBikeBrew
Well-Known Member
Mr. Malty's calculator lets you select the stir method (simple, shaken, aerated, stirplate, etc.) and adjusts accordingly. It's in a pull down menu in the calculator. The OP's numbers look about right for the stirplate option.
(FWIW, I used the calculator for several months before I realized that this option existed. Found it by accident one day, even though it's right in the center of the calculator in plain sight.)
Not quite true. Try the wyeast calculator, which (I've been told) was also created by Mr Malty Jamil, and split a 2 L starter into 2 1L steps. You'll see it is about 50% more effective than throwing the entire 2L in with the yeast. Great info here on this subject.
In this case (1L starter) you are correct and I was wrong: stepping up won't help with your smaller starter. I'm not sure why, but I have to do the math myself someday to figure it out.
