Best Starter for a Propogator Pack

I plan on doing a PM Oatmeal Stout this friday, and i have a Propagator smack pack of 1084 Irish Ale yeast. I'd like ot make the best possible starter with what I have: 1lb of light DME, 1L flask, 2L flask, Yeast nutrient, and Stir Plate.

I was thinking of doing a 1L starter Monday night, decanting and pitching into a 2L starter Wednesday night, then pitching the starter into ~5.5 gal of beer friday night . Should I skip the decanting, and just add 1l of fresh cooled wort?

Given the equipment listed and 4 days is this the best way to start a Propagator pack. It seems to be inline with Wyeast's pitching calculator and pitching rate chart, I'm just not clear on the best way to step up the starter.

1 LB of DME seems like a lot to me.Boil the water,add the nutrients.Then add the DME and stir well.Cool down and add the yeast,stir well.Pour into flask and put on airlock.

mr_clean said:

1 LB of DME seems like a lot to me.Boil the water,add the nutrients.Then add the DME and stir well.Cool down and add the yeast,stir well.Pour into flask and put on airlock.

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Well yeah not the whole Lb, i was planning on using 1 cup/liter

Starters are usually around 1.040 which should be 3oz per quart. My basic starter is 6oz DME to 2 quarts and it runs on my stirplate for 24-48 hrs. I've had great success w/ a starter that size, never had lag. Found this on the Wyeast website.

The Wyeast Propagator (50 ml) should not be directly pitched into 5 gallons. This package is designed to be propagated in a starter culture before inoculating larger volumes of wort. A Propagator contains 30 billion cells. One propagator in ½ gallon starter will deliver 6 million cells per ml.

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Mr Malty has a good starter size calculator too.

johnnyc said:

Starters are usually around 1.040 which should be 3oz per quart. My basic starter is 6oz DME to 2 quarts and it runs on my stirplate for 24-48 hrs. I've had great success w/ a starter that size, never had lag. Found this on the Wyeast website.




Mr Malty has a good starter size calculator too.

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I'm trying to step it up to at least 12mil cells per ml, will this work.

Unfortunately Jamil's calculator assumes an activator pack or pitchable tube.

I think the pack will be fine in a 1.6 litre starter on the stir plate for 36 hours give or take.

You will get a good start. Watch out for the 1084. 11 gallons crawled right out if my converted sanke fermenter with o2.

I use foil instead of an airlock.

Drinking it right now. DAYM its good!