Do I need a starter for this recipe?

[dierythmus]

I picked up the DFH 90 extract clone from Jasper's. It comes with Safale-04 and the OG is stated as 1.091.

I've read that with dry yeast you don't need a starter. Is this true? Should I pitch 2 packs instead?

 

[LLBeanJ]

No starter when using dry yeast. For that high of an OG, I would pitch two and be sure to rehydrate first.

 

[phuff7129]

No starter when using dry yeast. For that high of an OG, I would pitch two and be sure to rehydrate first.

+1 on pitching 2 packs and no starter.

 

[Revvy]

This is where you really should go to determine how much yeast you need, for both liquid with starters and for dry. Mr Malty Pitch Rate Calculator.

 

[LandoLincoln]

I think that this is the wrong question to ask. The question should be, "how many packs of yeast should I use for this batch?" Dry yeast isn't better at creating yeast cells than liquid yeast packs or vials.

Mrmalty.com says that for for 5 gallons of 1.091 ale wort, you'd need about 308 billion yeast cells. That's 3.4 packs of 5 gram yeast packs, or 3.2 vials or packs of liquid yeast without a starter, or 2 vials / packs WITH a simple 2.16 liter starter, or 2 vials / packs with a 1 liter starter that has been sitting on a stir plate.

 

[dierythmus]

Thanks guys. I'll make sure I pitch enough. I've never rehydrated before - seems easy enough. Can I rehydrate 2 packs of yeast together, or do I need to rehydrate them seperately?

 

[BansheeRider]

Thanks guys. I'll make sure I pitch enough. I've never rehydrated before - seems easy enough. Can I rehydrate 2 packs of yeast together, or do I need to rehydrate them seperately?

Do it together in about 2 cups of water at 90 degrees.