Scottish ale yeast dated 6/22/10

[ebaynote]

Quick noob question, sorry. I'm making an 11/11/11 wee heavy this wknd. The scottish wyeast 1728 is from june an the OG on the beer is roughly 1.100. Will it be enough to make a 2L starter on a stir plate or should I bump it up? Appreciate any help.

 

[Gritsak]

Is that the date it was packaged or best by date? I can't remember how WY labels them. Either way, safe bet would be to use mrmalty.com to calculate the starter size

http://www.mrmalty.com/calc/calc.html

 

[ebaynote]

That is the package date. Yeah is told me to use 13 packs. Ha.

 

[Gritsak]

You aren't adjusting it correctly. There are a lot of parameters you have to set according to your setup.

 

[ebaynote]

Could you elaborate?

 

[Gritsak]

Since the calculator assumes there is very minimal viability with that package date (around 10%), it's calculating big starter and multiple vials are needed, even if you have a stir plate. I would be to begin it with a .5-1L starter. Let that ferment out then step it up another 2-3L. The initial starter will ensure you have a good, viable population to work with once you pitch it into the big starter. That should get you into the range that the calculator suggests .

 

[ebaynote]

Excellent. Thanks.

 

[devilishprune]

Definitely step it up like gritsak says. You get more yeast that way with less total wort.

 

[avidhomebrewer]

I agree with gritsak but would take it one step further for a beer that big. Go with a gallon starter after what grit suggested.