Russian Imperial Stout - starter?

Williams 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.
K

KELLEHERC

Active Member
Joined
Apr 5, 2009
Messages
35
Reaction score
1
I just picked up a Russian Imperial Stout kit that contained dry yeast pack.

Kit says OG 1.078-1.08
Yeast - Dry 11.5g English Ale Safale s-04 (Fermentis)
best by date: 2012 Oct.

I have read many threads.

Is a starter needed in this case?
Recommended or not needed at all?

Any other recommendations before I brew?
(will be trying a full boil)

Thanks
 
Not recommended with a dry yeast pack. If it was a Wyeast or White Labs yes it would be good measure.
 
I think Mr. Malty calculated 1.6 packs - but I have never used it before
Maybe that's not a big enough difference to matter.
 
No starter, really, but you're underpitching by a bit with just one yeast pack. At the least, I'd rehydrate it properly first.
 
If you've got the time/nearby LHBS, I'd just run out and buy another pack of dry yeast. Opinions on starters for dry yeast generally fall somewhere between "making a starter is actually harmful to the dry yeast" and "I could buy another pack of dry yeast for cheaper than the dme for the starter". You might be ok without a second one, but it would give you piece of mind for a few bucks.
 
I recently pitched 1 pack of Wyeast 1084 in my stout, and never considered adding a second or creating a starter. (This is my second batch ever.) Now, less than four days after inoculation, fermentation activity has slowed significantly. I worry that I should have made a starter, since several recipes similar to what I'm brewing call for multiple packs, or 160 billion cells. The recipe and instructions in my kit from the LHBS made no mention of a starter, or needing more than one smack pack--after all they, only sold me one!

Regardless, I'll probably RDWHAHB, but does anyone think it odd that a LHBS would sell me an incomplete recipe or kit? Of course, I hope to be proven wrong, and for my brew to turn out great.
 
tonyolympia said:
I recently pitched 1 pack of Wyeast 1084 in my stout, and never considered adding a second or creating a starter. (This is my second batch ever.) Now, less than four days after inoculation, fermentation activity has slowed significantly. I worry that I should have made a starter, since several recipes similar to what I'm brewing call for multiple packs, or 160 billion cells. The recipe and instructions in my kit from the LHBS made no mention of a starter, or needing more than one smack pack--after all they, only sold me one!

Regardless, I'll probably RDWHAHB, but does anyone think it odd that a LHBS would sell me an incomplete recipe or kit? Of course, I hope to be proven wrong, and for my brew to turn out great.
Click to expand...

Quit possible your primary fermenation has just finished as it is supposed too. Usually mine finish between 4-7 days.
 

Similar threads

D
Stuck fermentation on an imperial stout
Replies
25
Views
1K
dwick
D
P
Yeast for Stone IRS Clone
Replies
4
Views
627
InspectorJon
InspectorJon
N
Russian imperial stout above alcohol tolerance
2
Replies
49
Views
3K
Nick Z
N
Hoochin'Fool
Imperial Stout recipe, any feedback?
Replies
21
Views
1K
Hoochin'Fool
Hoochin'Fool
RyPA
Voss kveik or Nottingham for imperial stout
Replies
19
Views
2K
RyPA
RyPA
CornyKegs 300

Latest posts

Back
Top