Using Mr Malty Calculator

Ok, it seems the more I read about stepping up a yeast starter the more confused I get. I'm thinking about doing my first yeast starter for my next batch.

Lets say I'm aiming for an OG of 1.06 and my yeast's production date is 1/1/12. If I slide the growth factor bar to the right, it tells me I need 4.21 quarts of starter with 1 vial.

So, if I start by pitching the vial into 2 cups (1/2 qt) of water mixed with 1/2 cup of DME, what do I need to do to get to my 4.21 quarts? Will I get close enough if I pitch my the first 2 cups (after the krausen falls) into an additonal gallon of wort?

 

If you want to step up starters, you should check out http://yeastcalc.com. This calc gives nearly the same numbers as Mr. Malty, and is a lot easier to use for stepping up starters.

It's the yeast calculator that I use, and another HBT member created it.

 

I've seen this too but wasn't too sure how the actual step up process works. If I enter 0.473 L (same as the 2 cups in my hypothetical above), then a 1st step of 2.25 L with intermittent shaking gets me right to the pitch rate for 5 gal of 1.06.

So, I guess my question is, does the 2.25 L include the 0.473 L starter or not? Am I adding 2.25 L of fresh wort after a day or so of ferm? Or is the 2.25 supposed to be my end volume, so I'd only add 1.777 L?


On a side note, how often is intermittent shaking? It makes a big difference in the calculator if no aeration method is chosen instead. So, I assume it still makes a big difference if what I might consider intermittent shaking is say half as often as what's assumed in the calc.

 

I think you may be confusing the box on the left with the rest. It is only a guide for how much dme to add. Shake (swirl) as often as you have time for.

step 1: boil, cool, pitch, shake, chill, decant.
step 2: boil (no yeast), cool, pitch (yeast from step 1), shake, chill, decant
step 3: pitch in 5 gal.

 

Nice!

I was absolutely confusing the box on the left as the first step.

Cheers

 

Thanks for posting the yeastcalc site thisoneguy! I like it much better than mr. malty!!

 

*GASP*

...............Blasphemy !!!! : D

 

Anybody else compare these with Brewzor for Android? I get wildly different results for the same size starter steps, same method.
Don't know which to trust. Will compare against math in spreadsheet tomorrow.

 

+1 for the recommendation of yeastcalc.com! Great site! Plenty of excellent, relevant information and is very ease to use. Thanks!