So I just started an Oatmeal Stout last night. I started by steeping the grains. While I was steeping the grains I noticed that the Wyeast smack-pack I got was a 50mL pack and that I really should make a starter for it or I would experience a very long lag time. Well I ended up not creating a starter mainly because I already had started the steeping and did not want to have to waste the grains I had. I added all my ingredients and about 5 minutes before the end of the boil I added 1 tsp of Wyeast Yeast Nutrients to the wort.
I was very worried that the lag time would be so great that this batch was going to get some sort of bacterial growth. I ran to my local brewing supply store after work today to grab some dry yeast to pitch when I got home. I just got home and my airlock is going at a bubble every second or so.
I know I probably just got extremely lucky and that all the conditions were perfect for the yeast to propagate, and the nutrients I am sure helped a lot. I also understand that if I had created a starter that the lag would have been even less but I am perfectly content with the lag time I got. My English Brown Ale took much longer than that.
So to Wyeast, and all those out there that say you must create a starter for the 150mL Smack-pack and definitely for the 50mL I would disagree. My 12 hour fermentation lag would also disagree.
I was very worried that the lag time would be so great that this batch was going to get some sort of bacterial growth. I ran to my local brewing supply store after work today to grab some dry yeast to pitch when I got home. I just got home and my airlock is going at a bubble every second or so.
I know I probably just got extremely lucky and that all the conditions were perfect for the yeast to propagate, and the nutrients I am sure helped a lot. I also understand that if I had created a starter that the lag would have been even less but I am perfectly content with the lag time I got. My English Brown Ale took much longer than that.
So to Wyeast, and all those out there that say you must create a starter for the 150mL Smack-pack and definitely for the 50mL I would disagree. My 12 hour fermentation lag would also disagree.