So, I just built the DIY stir-plate from Anthony_Lopez's thread (thanks again Anthony), and I'm planning to use it for the first time in advance of this weekend's brew session. I'm making Northern Brewer's Maibock kit, and using the recommended Wyeast 2124 Bohemian Lager smack pack.
My confusion started when I checked out the Mr. Malty pitching rate calculator, which gave me the following results for a lager with an OG of 1.064 when using a starter with a stir plate: 448 billion yeast cells needed, therefore 2 yeast packs in a 1.88L starter or 4.5 packs without a starter.
I've heard that lagers need more yeast, and I know 1.064 is a little bigger than you would want to pitch one pack into if it was an ale... but making basically a half gallon starter from 2 yeast packs sounds like a TON of yeast.
Am I crazy? How bad would it be if I just made a 2L starter with the one yeast pack that I already have?
My confusion started when I checked out the Mr. Malty pitching rate calculator, which gave me the following results for a lager with an OG of 1.064 when using a starter with a stir plate: 448 billion yeast cells needed, therefore 2 yeast packs in a 1.88L starter or 4.5 packs without a starter.
I've heard that lagers need more yeast, and I know 1.064 is a little bigger than you would want to pitch one pack into if it was an ale... but making basically a half gallon starter from 2 yeast packs sounds like a TON of yeast.
Am I crazy? How bad would it be if I just made a 2L starter with the one yeast pack that I already have?
