I'm planning to brew my first batch this weekend, a California Common kit that comes with all the extract, hops, yeast etc.
The kit comes with a package of DRY yeast (a california lager yeast I believe). I have a home-made stir plate that I was planning to use to make up a starter with some light DME I bought, but now I'm not sure if it is possible/advisable to do a yeast starter with a dry yeast pack (and a lager at that). If it is, what would the process be?
Everything I've read on yeast starters seems to assume or imply that you start with a liquid yeast vial or smackpack. Could I just do the same thing as one would do with a liquid yeast after re-hydrating? Finally, any thoughts on how long before time I should start the starter before pitching, since I'm using a California lager variety (again, assuming doing a starter is possible/advisable in the first place)?
The kit comes with a package of DRY yeast (a california lager yeast I believe). I have a home-made stir plate that I was planning to use to make up a starter with some light DME I bought, but now I'm not sure if it is possible/advisable to do a yeast starter with a dry yeast pack (and a lager at that). If it is, what would the process be?
Everything I've read on yeast starters seems to assume or imply that you start with a liquid yeast vial or smackpack. Could I just do the same thing as one would do with a liquid yeast after re-hydrating? Finally, any thoughts on how long before time I should start the starter before pitching, since I'm using a California lager variety (again, assuming doing a starter is possible/advisable in the first place)?