1L flask for 1L starter?

[gatorforty]

Hey guys, quick question. I have made a few .5L starters in my 1L flask, but for my next batch I need a 1L starter.

Only have a 1L flask...so am I OK with that or will it overflow with Krausen/etc? Would it be better to do a .5L starter, and then add more wort a second time?

Thanks,

Ron

 

[BrewingGunner]

It will overflow.

 

[Stauffbier]

You can do the .5L, then cold crash, decant, then do another .5L, then cold crash, decant, and pitch.

 

[gatorforty]

Thanks guys. I thought so. Will do a 500ml and feed it twice instead. Thanks!

Ron

 

[sok454]

So my 1L that I have in my 1L flask is going to bust out of my flask. Awesome.

 

[atreid]

Well there's not that much of a krawsen when you keep your starter well oxygenated with at least intermittent shakes.... but its a little tight for sure...

Just go buy some cheap glass container at the dollar store... if you don't have a stir pad that is...

 

[tally350z]

I used a one gallon glass jug as my started vessel when I needed a large starter.

 

[mysteryshrimp]

I routinely make 1 liter starters in my 1 liter flask and have never had a mess. In an Erlenmeyer, there is decent head space and with a stir-bar there is very little foaming.

 

[el_caro]

i routinely make 1 liter starters in my 1 liter flask and have never had a mess. In an erlenmeyer, there is decent head space and with a stir-bar there is very little foaming.

+1

 

[SpeedYellow]

I think you're seeing the limitations of 1L flask. IMHO, they're useless since so many beers need a larger starter, and 500mL starter gives you very few new cells (see the yeast calculators). Point is forget the 1L flask and use a 2 L flask or larger (like a 4L growler).

 

[ACbrewer]

other than looking cool, and perhaps ease of sanatation (I'm not sold on that one), Flasks are not needed for starters. Any smaller container will do. I acatually have used a 2 quart drink pitcher for 1L starters. Someone else posted pictures of coffee caraffe for doing starters.

 

[billl]

There is huge difference between using a stir plate vs just shaking it. One of those is head space. The constant motion of stir bar will keep the krausen from climbing the side and overflowing. If you are just periodically shaking, it is quite possible for the krausen to climb up over the top and make a mess.

 

[fosaisu]

i used a one gallon glass jug as my started vessel when i needed a large starter.

+ 1

 

[Stauffbier]

You get different results with different yeasts when it comes to foaming up. I've had starters foam up real bad and others not foam up at all. The best insurance in any vessel is to use fermcap-s.

I agree with the statement that you don't need to use a flask. I buy cheap 2L mason jars at Michaels. They're cheap enough that I have many of them, so I can make more than one starter at a time.

 

[kh54s10]

There is huge difference between using a stir plate vs just shaking it. One of those is head space. The constant motion of stir bar will keep the krausen from climbing the side and overflowing. If you are just periodically shaking, it is quite possible for the krausen to climb up over the top and make a mess.

+1

I rarely get a significant krausen when making starters on my stirplate so a 1 liter flask should work fine for a 1 liter starter.

 

[sok454]

If u are using a yeast like s04 I assume u rehydrate it and add it the wort? At least that is the instruction I found on brewfriemd.

 

[Stauffbier]

If u are using a yeast like s04 I assume u rehydrate it and add it the wort? At least that is the instruction I found on brewfriemd.

We're not talking about rehydrating dry yeast here...

 

[MaxStout]

Using jars and growlers with a stir plate can be problematic, due to the convex bottoms of those containers. It's hard to keep the stir bar in the center and it has the tendency to slide off to the side. Erlenmeyer flasks are flat-bottomed and don't have that problem.

But if you're just doing the "occasional shake" method, then any good glass vessel will work.

 

[Stauffbier]

I never have any problems with mason jars and stir bars. They work like a champ for me!

 

[gatorforty]

Again, thanks for all of the advice. I'm using a stirplate (for the first time) with this starter, and there is almost NO krausen but it does look active.

Another question: I want to brew Sat night, can I add more wort to it tonight (24 hours after starting it), or is that too soon?

Ron

 

[fosaisu]

Using jars and growlers with a stir plate can be problematic, due to the convex bottoms of those containers. It's hard to keep the stir bar in the center and it has the tendency to slide off to the side. Erlenmeyer flasks are flat-bottomed and don't have that problem.

But if you're just doing the "occasional shake" method, then any good glass vessel will work.

I thought the same until I broke my 2L flask and had to improvise with a 1 gallon jar that I used for making iced tea. The gallon jar worked fine on my stir plate, took maybe an extra minute to get the stir bar centered but it worked fine after that despite the convex bottom. Of course if you like to set the stir plate speed as high as possible (teetering on the edge of throwing the bar) then you'll have to make more frequent adjustments, but I'm this way and still haven't found it to be a huge deal. I won't buy another $20 flask since the 1 gallon jar works just as well for me and will accomodate a bigger starter. Of course you can't safely boil your starter wort in a gallon jar so you have to do that in a pot on the stove, then cool and pour into the sanitized jar. But I've actually liked that since it was always a pain for me getting the DME into the flask without it getting stuck to the sides.

 

[Randy_Bugger]

I had a 1L starter foam over in a 2L flask using a stir plate and no defoamer. It's possible the stir bar may have been thrown over night. The yeast was Ardennes.

 

[highgravitybacon]

I think you're seeing the limitations of 1L flask. IMHO, they're useless since so many beers need a larger starter, and 500mL starter gives you very few new cells (see the yeast calculators). Point is forget the 1L flask and use a 2 L flask or larger (like a 4L growler).

Yes.

Go 2L+.

 

[scutiger]

I make 1L starters in a 1L flask all the time, they never come close to overflowing, there's never even any foaming.

 

[sok454]

How much wort are you putting in?

 

[WDT]

Never have any problems with the 1L starter either, it's always when I step up to a 2L in my 2L flask. That's when things get out of hand.

 

[Randy_Bugger]

I started with a 2L flask and added a 3L flask later. Most homebrew stores don't carry a 3L, unfortunately.

 

[1MadScientist]

About 2 drops of Fermcap-S.

 

[1MadScientist]

I recently scored a one gallon sized #1 plastic food container, free, from a Lenny's sub shop. So, it doesn't have to cost you anything.

 

[kh54s10]

Again, thanks for all of the advice. I'm using a stirplate (for the first time) with this starter, and there is almost NO krausen but it does look active.

Another question: I want to brew Sat night, can I add more wort to it tonight (24 hours after starting it), or is that too soon?

Ron

Sounds perfect.

I run most of my starters for 18-24 hours. If it is a small one I often pitch the whole thing. For larger ones I will allow time to chill and decant.