first lager and starter

[blitz77]

so i am getting ready to do my first lager today (maibock) and i have also done my first yeast starter. my starter consisted of 3 packs of wlp833 and i went with 1gm dme to every 10ml of water making up a 1320ml starter using a 2000ml flask, a stirplate and using tin foil on top, not an airlock.

plan is to put in fridge the night before pitching, get both the starter and wort to 48f, decant starter and pitch and slowly raise up temp to 55.

anyhow i wanted to make sure this works out right since it is my first one and it will be a long fermenting process so i just thought i would post this here to see if i am missing anything.

also i did my starter last night at about 5pm and am wondering if it will be ready to throw in the fridge tonight after 24 hours have passed or if i need to wait until it is done with its fermentation process, i havent really noticed any activity yet but that could be because its on a stirplate.

i will be brewing the lager today in a couple hours but am assuming if need be it can sit in the fridge for a couple days while waiting for the starter to be ready to pitch.

 

[kh54s10]

To me your plan seems sound. A starter on a stirplate often shows very little activity compared to a normal fermentation. The starter wort should go from translucent brown to a coffee and a lot of cream look.

Your starter should be done by 24 hours. 18-24 is what I have heard is usually enough. After that the yeast are not reproducing much and are expending energy fermenting the starter wort.

 

[blitz77]

Thanks for the reply
This is what I have thus far at about 23 hours

also wasnt sure if i should turn off the stirplate at this point or let it keep running until i throw it in the fridge.

 

[kh54s10]

I guess it is OK since you started with 3 packs. I personally would have saved about $18 by making a large starter starting from one pack of yeast. Or making a step starter if that was what I could do with a 2 liter flask. But it looks good. I would say you can probably cold crash at any time now.

 

[blitz77]

right on thanks so much! new to home brew and first starter so thanks for the tips. definitely like to save money when i can too