mikeysab
Well-Known Member
Since I started brewing and visiting HBT 13 months ago, I've noticed that a lot of people do DIY projects. I enjoy them as well, and if I can save some cabbage by doing it myself, I'm all for it. One of the big DIY's has been the Stir Plate. I had two old computers sitting around, and figured I'd give it a shot. So I put the plate together, got it up and running and just couldn't wait to give it a shot. I'm planning a brew day this weekend, so i smacked my pack like it owed me 20 bucks and got a starter together. It went on the plate 18 hours ago, and I think something is wrong.
When I put the starter on the plate, it looked like wort with some little white flecks occasionally floating by. Every once in awhile, I'd notice one of the white flecks hold on to the inside of the flask. As I looked closer, I could see it was a yeast cell. He looked very scared, and I could see him mouth "Help me, please". He was crying, and looked sad. Eventually he let go and floated off into the vortex. As time went by, I'd check on the starter, and noticed it getting lighter and lighter. This morning I awoke and checked on the starter. I was shocked at what I saw. as I watched, I noticed a yeast cell grab onto the inside of my container with one hand. This guy looked like Conan the Barbarian. He was a monster, had a viking helmet on, and a battle axe in his other hand. As I watched him hold on with one hand, he winked at me and said "Is this all you got, biatch"? When he let go, he did a double back flip with a twist into the vortex yelling "Suck meeeeeeeee".
The starter, after 18 hours is FULL of yeast now. It looks like a blizzard inside my flask. I wasn't expecting such multiplication. I have to step my starter up to 3 liters this afternoon. I'll try and take some pictures of the before and the after to show the difference. If you've ever contemplated building, or buying a stir plate, it's a no brainer. This thing is amazing.
When I put the starter on the plate, it looked like wort with some little white flecks occasionally floating by. Every once in awhile, I'd notice one of the white flecks hold on to the inside of the flask. As I looked closer, I could see it was a yeast cell. He looked very scared, and I could see him mouth "Help me, please". He was crying, and looked sad. Eventually he let go and floated off into the vortex. As time went by, I'd check on the starter, and noticed it getting lighter and lighter. This morning I awoke and checked on the starter. I was shocked at what I saw. as I watched, I noticed a yeast cell grab onto the inside of my container with one hand. This guy looked like Conan the Barbarian. He was a monster, had a viking helmet on, and a battle axe in his other hand. As I watched him hold on with one hand, he winked at me and said "Is this all you got, biatch"? When he let go, he did a double back flip with a twist into the vortex yelling "Suck meeeeeeeee".
The starter, after 18 hours is FULL of yeast now. It looks like a blizzard inside my flask. I wasn't expecting such multiplication. I have to step my starter up to 3 liters this afternoon. I'll try and take some pictures of the before and the after to show the difference. If you've ever contemplated building, or buying a stir plate, it's a no brainer. This thing is amazing.