Help! Quick advice needed

[SmallFloorBrewing]

I think I may have been doing starters incorrectly all this time. I mix 2 cups of water with 1/2 cup of DME, and I usually end up with a 500-600 ml starter. According to mr malty, I need at least 1 L of starter for the beer I'm doing (1.052 OG).

It's been about 14 hours since I made the starter.... should I just boil up some DME real quick, cool it down, and then add it to my existing starter? I currently have it on a stir plate.

 

[klyph]

Starters are an added insurance, you don't NEED them, but they are good practice.

 

[nukebrewer]

+1
I've only used a starter once and it was for a fairly big beer. As long as you're OG isn't crazy high (and yours isn't), I wouldn't worry about it too much. Wyeast Activator packs are designed ferment 1.060 wort just from pitching straight from the pack and White Labs is designed to ferment 1.070 wort straight from the vial. So the fact you did a starter at all is more than enough. You'll be fine.

-AJ

 

[Yooper]

I'm a big believer in pitching the correct amount of yeast at the correct temperature. Proper pitching rate and proper fermentation temperature are the two things I did to make my beer better.

That said, if you don't have time to make a proper sized starter, your beer should still be ok. However, it's not too late to add to the starter. It's called "stepping it up" and I will do that when I make a lager starter. If mr malty calls for a 1L starter, I'll just do what you did and double the ingredients to make a double sized starter.

 

[Ohio-Ed]

I'm a big believer in pitching the correct amount of yeast at the correct temperature. Proper pitching rate and proper fermentation temperature are the two things I did to make my beer better.

That said, if you don't have time to make a proper sized starter, your beer should still be ok. However, it's not too late to add to the starter. It's called "stepping it up" and I will do that when I make a lager starter. If mr malty calls for a 1L starter, I'll just do what you did and double the ingredients to make a double sized starter.

So to the OP's original question... Are you suggesting he do an additional starter, or can he ADD to the existing one that he has on the stir plate?

(I'm trying a harvested yeast for the same time, and thinking of adding to the starter I made last night)

Thanks,

Ed

 

[A4J]

So to the OP's original question... Are you suggesting he do an additional starter, or can he ADD to the existing one that he has on the stir plate?

I've never done it this way, but it should be ok to just put it into the existing starter. Usually what I'll do is let the starter finish, decant the clear liquid, then add new wort.

 

[TipsyDragon]

let this starter finish its thing and the yeast to settle. then pour off the liquid and add fresh wart. then shake and aerate as normal. the yeast ill kick in again and make more of themself.