how big is "too big" of a yeast starter?

[sar_dog_1]

Afternon all! I am making 5.5 gal of kolsch this weekend with a og of 1.052. white labs kolsch liquid least with a production date of 20jan14.

online yeast starter calculators kinda range averywhere from 1.9 to 1 liter starters. I used mr malty and it said to use a 1.44L starter. I made it and is on my stirplate as we speak.( Starter OG is 1.040) just for s and g I punched in the numbers again as this is my very first starter and I am anal. lol it said this time to use a 1L starter.

I understand the importance of not underpitching (that's why I am doing a starter) but what happens if I put too much yeast into my wort? are we strictly talking off flavors? if so, how detectable are they? is there anything else I ahould know about overpitching?

If I did pitch an OK amount, I would still like to know the consequences of overpitching. Thanks and cheers!!

 

[Staylow]

You'll be fine. You can over pitch by 4 or 5 times without much worry. It's under pitching you don't want.

 

[stpug]

Better to over pitch than under pitch, generally speaking. In the case of a kolsch, better off over pitching.

It takes quite a bit of "too much" yeast to cause major flaws (i.e body, head retention, etc).

You're good but you probably didn't need anything over 1L on a stirplate.

 

[sar_dog_1]

Thanks every one! I feel better now!