Erlenmeyer? No.

[Spartan1979]

Funny, I was just learning about making starters last night and came here to find out more about which erlenmeyer to buy.

I have a couple extra stoppers around, #6 and #7 I believe. Any recommendation as to which erlen will work with either? I'm thinking 2L at the largest.

Stoppers are cheap. I wouldn't worry about buying a flask to match an existing stopper. I only use my stopper when the flask is empty to keep dust out.

 

[michael_mus]

Stoppers are cheap. I wouldn't worry about buying a flask to match an existing stopper. I only use my stopper when the flask is empty to keep dust out.

Reasonable angle. Cost really isn't an issue, more of functionality and ease of use. I'd like to follow John Palmer's advice and put an airlock on top.

A better way to phrase the question is: Any brands or sizes to avoid? I want something that will work well with a standard stopper and airlock.

 

[BetterSense]

I got my pyrex 'flask' at the dollar store.

Lots of other coffee containers there, all with flat bottoms.

 

[alien]

Love it.

 

[IslandLizard]

I've read somewhere to put an o-ring on each end of the stir bar to prevent it from being thrown when the bottom is concave.

Paying absurd amounts for cool looking vessels is entirely up to the consumer.

 

[thadius856]

I brew 10 gal batches and I use a 5000 ML Pyrex erlenmeyer. The larger size works great for 2500 ML starters. Keeps eruptions to a minimum except with WPL 001. I boil in a sauce pan then transfer to the flask and add yeast. Been using the same flask for 5 years. Flat bottom works great with a stir bar as well.

Have a 5L starter going right now in a 5L flask. As in the pictures before. On a stir plate with a 2" stir bar, foaming isn't really an issue because of the sheer amount of liquid movement.

I checked it and crammed 6.8L of water into it before it got to the neck. Pretty sure I could make a 6.5L starter in the thing if I added a drop of two of FermCap-S every couple hours.

 

[Gixxer]

I've read somewhere to put an o-ring on each end of the stir bar to prevent it from being thrown when the bottom is concave.

Paying absurd amounts for cool looking vessels is entirely up to the consumer.

I need to get some o rings. I have one of the stir bars with the donut in the middle to promote spinning, but it makes an awful racket when it spins! I think that might help my prob. Oh btw I use a plastic beer pitcher for my starter vessel with sanitized foil for a cover. The bottom is perfectly flat.

 

[vtec4me21]

The nice thing about a Erlenmeyer is it looks cool. The advantage is that you have less boil off because of the narrow neck and you can heat and chill in the same container and it does hold a stirbar. I tend to boil my starter in a saucepan and transfer to a Erlenmeyer if I'm doing less or equal to a 1 ¾ liter starter since my largest Erlenmeyer is 2 liter. When I make a larger starter I use a 1 gallon pickle jar or if larger you can use a plastic storage container. Just look around the house or store for an appropriate container. The disadvantage to the saucepan method is you will have more boil off due to the larger surface area. But you just take it into your calculations.

Agreed and...science! It makes you look like a mad effing scientist. What more persuasion could you need?

Science wills it!!!

 

[Babydom]

Decanting a large starter is a lot easier with an Erlenmeyer flask. There have been a few big lager starters that I was certainly glad that I had flask, plus the graduated marking make it very convenient. If you search around there’s some reasonable prices. But you really don't need one, there's less expensive options out there like Mason jars, growlers, etc.

 

[BBL_Brewer]

What it all comes down to is finding something that works for you and is in your price range. If it works, great. If not, find something that does.

 

[thadius856]

I need to get some o rings. I have one of the stir bars with the donut in the middle to promote spinning, but it makes an awful racket when it spins! I think that might help my prob. Oh btw I use a plastic beer pitcher for my starter vessel with sanitized foil for a cover. The bottom is perfectly flat.

I tried this using the small McMaster o-rings from the keg o-ring SKU thread. I have the full set, including both silicone and buna-n for the posts. I believe I used the diptube o-ring.

Didn't work on my gallon jugs. Made it worse because then the magnet had a much harder time dragging it up the concave surface, so it wouldn't even hold the bar without tossing it. YMMV. I think my jugs have larger concave surfaces than most.

They do sell barbel-shaped stir bars for this though.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B007PJN4IE/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20 <--- That's a big 2" long one.

Both my smooth and octagonal bars make noise, from my 3/4" up to my 2". Center ring or smooth seems to make no difference. And they make the noise in all of my vessels I've tried, including the cider jugs.

The opening on a 5L flask is 2.25" across, compared to 1.125" on a 1-gallon cider jug. That makes the opening 4 times as large. Just ordered a 1.5" cross-shaped stir bar that should fit. They're supposed to be quieter.

Edit: Realized that I never tried the o-rings on the flask. Oh well.

 

[Gixxer]

I had seen the barbell stir bars before, but I bet the o rings would make that stir bar practically silent. The tick tack drives the wife nuts!!! Sooner or later I am gonna have to upgrade my starter vessel... I am limited to 1.5L... I might just get a 3000ml beaker. I dont mind using sanitized foil.

 

[JehovahsWitnessProtection]

I had seen the barbell stir bars before, but I bet the o rings would make that stir bar practically silent. The tick tack drives the wife nuts!!! Sooner or later I am gonna have to upgrade my starter vessel... I am limited to 1.5L... I might just get a 3000ml beaker. I dont mind using sanitized foil.

You could just get a 3000ml Erlenmeyer. Decent price on one here at Amazon.

 

[Pappers_]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Yooper
No, the advantage of an Erlenmeyer is that you can boil the starter right on the stove, chill it down right in the flask, and add the yeast.

The next advantage is you get a nice vortex and don't throw the stirbar.

Originally Posted by Alien
Why not a flat bottomed pyrex jug or beaker then.

No reason, as has been mentioned many times by many people, you can use nearly any container.

But that doesn't negate the fact that your OP was incorrect - your reason (sanitation) is not why people use flasks.

 

[alien]

...

 

[Gixxer]

You could just get a 3000ml Erlenmeyer. Decent price on one here at Amazon.

I guess they are about the same price huh...

 

[ThatGeekGuy]

Check Houston Scientific Supply on Amazon, good prices on heavy Pyrex flasks and stir bars with free shipping.

 

[Gartywood]

I also boil in a saucepan and pour into my flask.

 

[JayMac]

I haven't read all of the above posts, but here is why you should go with buying and Erlenmeyer:

1. You only need one container. Add the water, then the DME. The only things you'll need to sanitize is the tinfoil, and maybe the neck of the flask when you add the yeast. Simple as pie and reduces chance of infection.

2. Large surface area on the bottom reduce heat up times

3. Narrow neck reduces boil=-off to the point where you almost suffer no change in volume (I find about 50mL in a 1L starter is boiled off, which basically compensates for the DME you add)

4. Stir bars spin easily on the flat bottoms

5. easily accept stopper. My 2L flask accepts no. 10 stopper. I use a solid one for shaking, and a single hole one for my airlock.

6. Borosilicate Erlenmeyer flasks do not break when relatively large changes in temperature occur (in the range we are dealing with). I go straight from my stovetop, where the glass is well in excess of 100 Celcius, to 10 Celsius water. Never had a problem and I've never been worries

7. Bought mine for $20 at my Univeristiy's Chemical supply store.

8. Looks badass

You should seriously look into buying one. We are always looking for ways to simplify our lives as brewers, and this is one which makes starters a breeze.

 

[alien]

Just don't show your mother, she'll think it's a bong.

Of course, there's absolutely no way you could adapt one for that purpose.

 

[alien]

Well, I am wavering slightly after I saw a 2L Erlenmeyer on Amazon for $13.

http://amzn.to/19wmRah

 

[alien]

Caved and bought the 2L. My wife forgot to cancel a free trial of Amazon prime so I thought I might as well get something out of it. That's my excuse anyway.

Link http://amzn.to/19wmRah

 

[alien]

It arrived just now inside a box, that was packed in a box, inside a third box. Like Russian dolls.

 

[ianw58]

Funny. Just read this thread and then looked in at homebrew Finds...

2 liter borosilicate flask for $13 + shipping...
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...ASIN=B006UKI8XK&linkCode=as2&tag=hombrefin-20

 

[Grossy]

I stopped using Erlenmeyer flasks and went to pyrex graduated beakers.

All the advantages of a Erlenmeyer flask, essentially a large pyrex pot.

I boil my wort in the beaker, throw in the stir bar to sanitize it, place aluminum foil over the top, everything is heat sanitized.

My stir plate is in my fermentation chamber. Place the beaker with the hot wort on the plate, turn it on, a few hours later pitch the yeast.

Advantages:
Dont have to sanitize the beaker.
Dont have to chill the wort with an ice bath.
Dont have to clean the pot I boiled the wort in.
Perfect sanitation.
Easier to clean a beaker than a flask.

 

[alien]

The 2L Erlenmeyers are back on homebrew finds, $15.

 

[alien]

2L Erlenmeyers now on Amazon for $14.25.

 

[alien]

2L Erlenmeyer $14.25 deal is back.