Lactobacillus starter help Milled vs Unmilled grain

[1_Man_Wolf_Pack]

After reading several forums, I plan on making a lacto starter using some mashed Belgian pils. I want to basically Mash, boil and toss in the grain to propagate the lacto with a growler / crockpot as described in many other threads. Everything Ive read refers to tossing in UNMILLED grain - mine is already milled, Is there any specific reason to use UNMILLED vs MILLED?

This starter will be used to sour mash a cherry wheat using WLP 320 as a primary yeast and will be the first one I have done. I plan on lautering in the sour mash after roughly 3 days into the primary mash and will boil so I do not have to dedicate any equipment to sour only at this point.

 

[gregkeller]

The lacto lives on the outside/husk of the grain, so no need to mill it. I'd imagine that there wouldn't be a problem if the grain was already milled as long as there are still husks present you should have everything you need. Maybe a little tougher to filter out after the starter is made. I'd throw the grain in a grain bag if it's already milled to make cleanup a little easier.

 

[1_Man_Wolf_Pack]

I didn't see any reference to it is all. I don't think milled grain should make a difference but then again, its my first attempt. I didn't even consider this until today, when I was planning on buying lacto from the LHBS but they didn't have any. I ended up with WYEAST roeslare but don't want to use it for this beer. After this, My next and first true sour will be a supplication knock off that I will use the WYEAST roeselare for.

 

[goovaerl92]

The lacto is on the husks of the grain, so it doesn't matter if it is milled or un-milled. I've had success with milled grain...it works just fine!

 

[1_Man_Wolf_Pack]

I went ahead and used the milled and have two growlers in a crockpot water holding about 110 degrees f. One has a thin film on top and the other has more of a chunky layer. All the pictures I've seen make me think something is wrong with the chunky one., but both smell the same, sort of warm grain breadish smell... Thoughts?

 

[goovaerl92]

looks like the "chunky" one just has a pellicle on top of it. It should be fine as long as it smells/tastes like lactic acid. If it smells like human waste, puke, etc...toss it ASAP