help with a yeast starter

[thomasben]

I'm going to be doing a saison next week that will need a starter...when you guys make a starter, typically what do you're measurements look like? Do you use a growler for yours or is a growler to small because of lack of head space?

 

[jaycount]

I use a 1000ml flask and only fill the wort up to about the 800ml mark to allow for some headspace. I've found most yeasts go crazy when you try shaking up the starters and can make a real mess if you aren't careful.

 

[phidelt1499]

I make my starters in a 2000 mL Erlenmeyer flask. Ideally you want the starter's SG to be 1.030-1.040 so I use the easy measurements of 1:10 of DME:Water (where DME is measured in grams and water is measured in mL). Thus for a 1000 mL (1 L) starter, you would use 100 g DME and 1000 mL of water.

 

[phidelt1499]

Also, I use http://www.mrmalty.com/calc/calc.html to determine how big the starter needs to be.

 

[thomasben]

Also, I use http://www.mrmalty.com/calc/calc.html to determine how big the starter needs to be.

Do some starters really need 2 smack packs?

 

[thomasben]

?

 

[samc]

You can step up your starter and go with one pack of yeast or do a larger starter. A Lager or high gravity ale might need more yeast, but I've never bought 2 tubes or packs for one 5 gallon brew, nor have I done so with 10 gallon batches.

 

[Brewham]

The starter doesn't need 2 smack packs but without a starter, you might need 2 smack packs to get enough yeast if you pitch directly into the wort.

 

[emjay]

I use a 1000ml flask and only fill the wort up to about the 800ml mark to allow for some headspace. I've found most yeasts go crazy when you try shaking up the starters and can make a real mess if you aren't careful.

800ml would barely produce any yeast at all from a fresh vial or smack pack...

 

[emjay]

I should add that a saison can actually benefit from slight underpitching, particularly if you can oxygenate it well.