My First Yeast Starter Experience: Get Some Towels

[zzARzz]

I was having trouble with my brews reaching their final gravity targets, so I decided to make a stir plate using the designs and ideas of the clever folks around here on HomeBrewTalk:

I was flabbergasted when a Brown Ale I brewed on Monday started having activity only an hour after pitching. Apparently it did too good of a job because this is what I woke up to on Tuesday morning:

This is pic after I unclogged and sterilized the airlock, laughing all the while. The moral of the story? I'm kicking myself in the pants for not doing starters earlier and am getting a conical fermenter as soon as I can. :cross:

 

[whitehause]

That's great! My first starter ended up all over the table also.
Isn't it great when a new part of the process shows real results.:rockin:

 

[passedpawn]

I'm kicking myself in the pants for not doing starters earlier and am getting a conical fermenter as soon as I can. :cross:

Nice job with the stir plate.

Prepare for some more ass kicking after you get some fermentation temp control.

 

[whitehause]

Nice job with the stir plate.

Prepare for some more ass kicking after you get some fermentation temp control.

Agree completely!....one of the biggest overall improvements in my taste and consistency.

 

[zzARzz]

Nice job with the stir plate.

Prepare for some more ass kicking after you get some fermentation temp control.

Thanks! I got a multi-voltage power adapter from Radio Shack (http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3875402&filterName=Category) which let me fine tune the speed. It was kicking off the stir bar at 12v, but lowering it to 6V made all the difference.

Fortunately I modified a 1.8cu.ft. refrigerator I had with a collar and temp controller for a Scottish Heavy I did and agree that the environmental controls make a great deal of difference. My brew room stays at 69F year round so I don't need to use the chamber all that often, but may reconsider that to "leash the beast" in the future.