WoodlandBrew
Well-Known Member
Depending on the size of your beer, the starter volume will vary. The question here is what size do you normally end up making for your beers? Based on that, what size would you find most useful?
What size flask?
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I have a 2L. It's served me well thus far. Though I admit underpitching and/or higher than standard gravity starters it does the trick. Usually. Not so much for high gravity (1.070+) lagers.
For that which I'm about to brew I need to do a starter, decant, do another starter, then preferably decant again, then pitch. Not such a huge issue if your brew is planned well in advance, but it is not the fastest method. I'm looking into getting a 4L flask as soon as finances permit to allow a single step starter instead.
For that which I'm about to brew I need to do a starter, decant, do another starter, then preferably decant again, then pitch. Not such a huge issue if your brew is planned well in advance, but it is not the fastest method. I'm looking into getting a 4L flask as soon as finances permit to allow a single step starter instead.
hunter_le five
Sheriff Underscore
I can't imagine a 1L flask being very useful. Even my 2L is barely big enough for my purposes, and I make medium gravity 5 gal batches exclusively.
I vote 3L+
I vote 3L+
I have a 4L and a couple 2L...... The only time I use a 2L is if I already have a starter going in my 4L.
LLBeanJ
Well-Known Member
I have a 2L, 3L, & 5L. I used to use the 2L most of the time, but it would occasionally blow off and make a mess. I recently picked up a 3L and have been using it almost exclusively, as anything I would have used the 2L for works well in the 3L. Haven't had any blowoffs in it yet. The 5L is rarely used, but does have its place, as in when building up a large starter for a lager.
william_shakes_beer
Well-Known Member
I always do 750ML starter wort in a 2L flask. I don't need no stinkin' pitching quackulator!!!
I have 1-liters, 2-liters, and 4-liters. (I had a 5-liter, but there was an incindent that I don't wish to discuss. It's no longer with us.)
The 1-liter flask is almost useless. I do use it if I'm trying to get a yeast slant going.
I generally use the 4-liter, but will use the 2-liter for smaller beers.
I've tried using bottles and jugs in place of flasks, and I've never had much luck with them. I always have trouble keeping my stirplate from throwing my stirbar in anything besides a flask.
The 1-liter flask is almost useless. I do use it if I'm trying to get a yeast slant going.
I generally use the 4-liter, but will use the 2-liter for smaller beers.
I've tried using bottles and jugs in place of flasks, and I've never had much luck with them. I always have trouble keeping my stirplate from throwing my stirbar in anything besides a flask.
railwalker
Well-Known Member
My gallon sized glass pickle jar works very well.
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railwalker
Well-Known Member
Not with a stirplate though
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I have a 2L and a 3L Erlenmeyer, which I use with a stir plate. The 2L is the "workhorse," as most of my starters are within that volume. But for the occasional big beer or lager, the 3L is nice, though sometimes I still have to do a stepped starter. I would buy a 5L, but I have heard so many stories about them breaking easily. $50 is a lot of coin to spend on a big glass bottle that may not last long.
Is it Pyrex or Kimax brand? If so, snap it up, as that is a great price, even for used. If it's one of those Chinese knockoffs (i.e., "student grade"), maybe not. The cheap ones often have scratches, air bubbles, etc., in the glass. Ask me how I know about those...
2 2L flasks. If i need bigger starters i just split them between the two flasks.
Yep - I used mine once...ONCE. I swear it broke when I looked at it the wrong way. I don't even remember touching it.
That's not a bad price if it's lab grade.
I've purchased a few 4-liter flasks on E-Bay for $25 each. I was a little nervous because I didn't know the full history of the flask. The seller did some research for me and found out it was used by a pharmaceutical company. I ended up using several different chemicals to clean it before using. It was very clean when I got it too.
Brew_G
Well-Known Member
I've only been brewing ales from 1.055-1.060, so I've been making 1.5-1.75L starters. My 2L Bomex Erlenmeyer flask has gotten a good amount of use.
I just picked up a yeastir and a 2L flask just so I could steal yeast from the bottoms of Bells bottles and grow my own. I do 5 gallon batches and see no reason to need more than a 2L flask as long as I plan ahead so my starters are stepped up and ready. I posted once that I never use starters. My new stir plate made me a liar..
I just found the perfect vessel for making LARGE starters! 5 gallon sanke keg with the spear removed. It can be treated just like a giant flask AND it works with my stir plate. Now I won't need to step starters when I brew 11 gallons of high gravity lagers.
Do you cold crash and decant? Wouldn't the shape of the keg put a lot of yeast back into suspension while decanting?
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If I need to do something greater than 2 liters, I just do a quick 1 gallon batch and pitch off of that yeast for the bigger recipe.
I crash it in the kegerator and siphon off the spent wort. That way you won't pick up much, if any, yeast. Shake the keg to mix it up and pour into a large sanitized container for storage.
azazel1024
Well-Known Member
I only started using liquid yeasts and thus starters, but so far my 1l flask.
A lot of my beers only need 1l of starter with the gravity I am typically using and mostly being ales, at least if I use my stir plate.
That means I am mostly using my 1l flask. I do occasionally use my 2l flask when doing large, high gravity ales, or doing large volumes or higher gravity lagers.
A lot of my beers only need 1l of starter with the gravity I am typically using and mostly being ales, at least if I use my stir plate.
That means I am mostly using my 1l flask. I do occasionally use my 2l flask when doing large, high gravity ales, or doing large volumes or higher gravity lagers.
william_shakes_beer
Well-Known Member
In order to be a good (lab grade) flask it needs to be borosilicate glass. The manufacturer is irrelevant.
dstar26t
If it's worth doing, it's worth overdoing
Usually use a 5L erlenmeyer for 12 gallon batches. When growth is complete, I do a cell count, chill and decant and then only pitch what I need. I have a 6L but it's only 400 mL bigger to the mouth compared to the 5L. The mouth is smaller on the 6L since it has a pour ring so it glugs when decanted which can disturb the flocculated yeast, especially poor flocculators. If I really need that extra volume I use the 6L or do a double 5L.
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