Best Yeast starter kits?

[clynts]

Brand new to the forum and I am looking for a good kit to start making yeast starters. I mainly brew 5 gallon all grain batches and want to quit buying multiple bags of wyeast for a batch. I have read stir plates are essential. Im thinking a 2000 ml flask but not sure if there is certain brands i need to avoid and look for. Any suggestions would be helpful. Any opinions on the vortex 2.0? Also what type of nutrients do i need to add and is the foam agents worth it. Thanks people in advance for helping me get into making my own yeast starters.

 

[WoodlandBrew]

Honestly any glass jar will do just fine, and you don't need a stir plate. The yield is about the same either way, despite what the calculators may say. Stir plays will grow the cells faster, and they are kinda cool.

If you have an old computer laying around you could probably build one for free.

If you want to buy something, 2L flasks are popular. Look for one that is Borosilicate or Pyrex if you want to be able to heat it with a flame. Some flasks are made with thinner glass, so you might want to scan the reviews for that. You can get a stir plate that will do the job for around $50.

 

[user 141939]

Yeah the stir plate is fun. I think bells homebrew shop and AIH have cheap ones. I made my own and bought a 2L starter and the thing is just too small. It's fine for some yeast but for those that like to top crop you can barely get away with putting a liter starter in it. Add to that my desire to save portions of my starter for re-use and its been kind of a pain. I'm either gonna get a 5 liter, or I'll prob just be doing more starters in my one gallon jug with no stirplate. Not even positive my stirplate can do 5L, but it probably could.

 

[user 141939]

They are cheap to build if you put the time in, but if i could go back. I would have just bought one of the $50 models. I spent too much on screws and nuts trying to get the thing to work right and it took several hours.

 

[TimmyWit]

Consider getting a 3L flask if you can fit it in the fridge for cold-crashing. If you get a 2L flask and need to make a 2L starter, you might find yourself cleaning up a sticky mess on your stir-plate/counter.

Also pick up some fermcap. This will allow you to boil your starter wort right in the flask and it will spare you some transferring and extra cleaning.

A pinch of yeast nutrient can't hurt and I usually use a stir plate. It's supposed to yield 2-3 times as much as a simple starter. Mrmalty is a good resource to help you determine your starter size:
http://www.mrmalty.com/calc/calc.html

 

[flars]

You could go low tech. This is my container for making starters on a stir plate, 1.1 gallons, $6.
https://www.homebrewtalk.com/photo/new-yeast-starter-container-61619.html

 

[Komocabo]

Stirstarter.com
Everything you need for cheap. I've used mine for almost 2 years now with ZERO issues.

 

[Komocabo]

Well crap. Looks like he is not selling from his site anymore.

 

[MrTux]

As. Noted above, you can make one yourself for around $25 on the low end to one that I saw where he made it from a large rock and some wood. Said he spent 3 years making it..... Mmmmk. After making my own and talking with all my experts and reading forums, the best size to work with is double what you need for your volume. I.e., if your making a 2L then you need a 4L container. Another thing to consider, make sure you have enough room in your freezer/fridge. I was eating my stash of venison quicker than I wanted.

 

[clynts]

I appreciate the help. I will consider getting at least a 3L flask and fermcap. If i can boil in that and not have to clean one more container that would be ideal. I have a problem with go big or go home so probably going with a stir plate.

 

[Komocabo]

Fermcap us your friend. I can get 2L starter in 2L flask with a few drops of that stuff. However, I do boil in a separate pan.

 

[user 141939]

You could go low tech. This is my container for making starters on a stir plate, 1.1 gallons, $6.

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/photo/new-yeast-starter-container-61619.html

The link goes to a different thread. Can you fix this? I am quite interested. I want something bigger without spending $40 on a bigger flask.

My gallon jugs just throw the stirbar cause the bottom is rounded.

 

[user 141939]

Never mind. Found it. Awesome. I'm gonna look around next time I go shopping. I wad always confused why everyone uses those flasks. Seems unnecessary.

 

[Komocabo]

Never mind. Found it. Awesome. I'm gonna look around next time I go shopping. I wad always confused why everyone uses those flasks. Seems unnecessary.

I have a hard time finding a glass container with a flat enough bottom... if it's curved then it can (read: will) throw the stirbar. I've tried growlers, huge pickle jars, etc,. with no success.. YMMV

 

[user 141939]

Right. But the link wasn't glass. It was a rubbermaid thing. Even the 5L flasks seemingly have a slightly rounded bottom. Some reviews of them on amazon complain about that.