GNBrews
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Mar 24, 2007
- Messages
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Lately, I've be trying to save a few bucks on my liquid yeast purchases by picking the Wyeast propagator packs instead of the activator, and using a starter to bring the cell count to an appropriate pitching rate. My starter wort usually consists of 1.25lb LME/gal, 1lb DME/gal, or lately, adding a bit of extra grain to my mash (+1.50lb) to have a gallon of excess wort. That gallon of wort is then split into (4) 1qt mason jars, and pressure-cooked for future use.
Tonight I find myself doing the accounting, and questioning the economy.
According to the Wyeast pitching calculator, using 1qt of starter wort with a stir plate (which I have) will give me approximately 7 million cells/ml in a 5gal fermentation, which is ideal for a standard gravity (<1.060) beer. The activator package provides this same pitching rate w/out the work of the starter.
A bit of math:
Malt Extract from my LHBS
Liquid - $2.42\lb = ($2.42 * 1.25lb)/4qt = ~$0.76/starter
Dry - $3.98\lb = ($3.98 * 1lb)/4qt = ~$1.00/starter
2-row pale Malt - $0.86\lb = ($0.86 * 1.5lb(.75% mash eff))/4qt = ~$0.32/starter
Wyeast from my LHBS
Propagator - $4.50
Activator - $5.75
Price difference = $1.25
Now, the question is whether my time spent setting up the pressure cooker to can the wort, energy used during the canning/stirring, and time monitoring the stir plate progress is worth that $1.25. I doubt it.
Obviously, if you're harvesting/banking yeast this is a moot point, as you really have to use a starter.
Just something to think about.
Tonight I find myself doing the accounting, and questioning the economy.
According to the Wyeast pitching calculator, using 1qt of starter wort with a stir plate (which I have) will give me approximately 7 million cells/ml in a 5gal fermentation, which is ideal for a standard gravity (<1.060) beer. The activator package provides this same pitching rate w/out the work of the starter.
A bit of math:
Malt Extract from my LHBS
Liquid - $2.42\lb = ($2.42 * 1.25lb)/4qt = ~$0.76/starter
Dry - $3.98\lb = ($3.98 * 1lb)/4qt = ~$1.00/starter
2-row pale Malt - $0.86\lb = ($0.86 * 1.5lb(.75% mash eff))/4qt = ~$0.32/starter
Wyeast from my LHBS
Propagator - $4.50
Activator - $5.75
Price difference = $1.25
Now, the question is whether my time spent setting up the pressure cooker to can the wort, energy used during the canning/stirring, and time monitoring the stir plate progress is worth that $1.25. I doubt it.
Obviously, if you're harvesting/banking yeast this is a moot point, as you really have to use a starter.
Just something to think about.