1st time Yeast Starter

[ozarks42]

I attempted to make my first yeast starter on Sunday the 11th of Jan. I boiled a 1/2 cup of DME in a quart of water for 15 minutes. I brought the temp down to about 70 degrees then poured this into a sanitized jar. I then added White Labs WLP001 California Ale yeast. I covered the jar with sanitized foil then placed it in a dark closet. I do not have a stir plate so I periodically shook the jar.

Due to unpredicted circumstances I have not been able to brew the the beer yet, and the yeast starter is still sitting in the closet, Saturday the 17th of Jan. My question is, If I brew this weekend is this yeast starter still good?

 

[eadavis80]

I would THINK it would be okay, though it might take a little longer than normal to kick off fermentation. Be sure you properly aerate your wort prior to pitching either with an airstone, O2 tank or shaking the heck out of your carboy, if possible. You could add a little new boiled/cooled wort into that starter just to get it going again, if you're really worried. Next time you make a starter and then can't brew for a week or so after having made it, you can just put the starter in the fridge and the yeast will settle out, you can then decant (pour off the top liquid leaving the beige yeast at the bottom) and then leave what's left (be sure to leave a little of the liquid on top of the beige yeast so you can shake that mixture up to loosen the yeast on the bottom prior to pitching) and just leave that starter at room temp for a few hours prior to pitching. Good luck on the starter.

 

[BlueHouseBrewhaus]

Put the starter in the fridge for a couple of days. You will see a layer of yeast settle to bottom. The day before you are ready to brew, remove the flask from the fridge and pour off the clear liquid above the yeast layer. Swirl the remaing yeast a bit and leave it out (with the foil still over it) to warm up to room temp. Boil up some more DME and water, cool it and add to the flask to create a new starter. No need to leave it in a dark place. Swirl it every time you walk by. By the time you brew next day it will be ready to pitch.

Meanwhile, check out Stir Starter. It's a low cost option for a stir plate. Easier and higher cell counts than periodic swirling.

 

[ozarks42]

Thanks for the quick response eadavis80 and BlueHouseBrewhaus. I have moved it to the fridge so the yeast will settle to the bottom. I'm going to try and make the brew the batch of beer I got the yeast for in a day or two.