My Starter Is Blowing Up

[Crumb93]

So... I thought tinfoil would be okay, but I'm thinking I may need a blow off tube. Is it safe to remove the tinfoil and stick an airlock on at this point? Is is necessary?

 

[Mexibilly]

Go ahead, it won't hurt anything and it will definitely help avoid a mess

 

[DocDriza]

As long as you sanitize there should be no problem.

 

[TimmyWit]

Don't put an airlock on unless you're fabricating a blowoff out of it. It will clog up and eventually blow off causing a big mess. Removing the foil to replace it with a blow-off (sanitized of course), won't be a problem. The positive pressure coming from the flask keeps the risk of contamination to a minimum.

 

[fuzzy2133]

What yeast strain? Also what gravity was the wort? The idea to using a stir plate is to have continuous aeration for cell growth so no on the air lock or blow tube unless you have too. I have a small stir bar that barely pulls a vortex on high for a 2L starter and never got that much krausen.

 

[revco]

I think it depends on when you're brewing, if it's a couple hours from now I'd let it ride. If it's tomorrow, well, yeah a blowoff tube might be essential. A straight airlock will probably just get overrun by fermented stuff, not a big deal but might still create a mess.

This is the biggest reason why I've gotten in the habit of doing starters the morning of brew day, rather than a day before. I haven't noticed a significant difference in lag time between the two, the yeast are still ready and roaring for more. If I'm doing a lager, though, I almost always break out my 5L beaker to avoid any troubles, mostly because volumes are higher there too.

 

[Crumb93]

What yeast strain? Also what gravity was the wort? The idea to using a stir plate is to have continuous aeration for cell growth so no on the air lock or blow tube unless you have too. I have a small stir bar that barely pulls a vortex on high for a 2L starter and never got that much krausen.

This is Yeast Bay Vermont Ale Yeast; two vials. The vials were older. However, I'm not sure how to determine what the manufacture date of the YB strains is. I assume it's similar to White Labs; off the top of my head four months prior to use by date.

Anyway, I used two different yeast starter calculators. I calculated 7.2oz of DME with both calculators, and I stick to the 1/2 cup of DME to 2 cups water ratio. I don't usually take gravity on my starters.

 

[Crumb93]

I'm actually brewing on Saturday morning! Yeah, I was initially going to stick an airlock with a blow off tube on top.

I've been reading online that this may not be a huge deal. I stuck some wax paper on top of my stir plate, and stuck it on a plate. I'm not sure about sticking that airlock on because it'll stop oxygen from getting in.

I'm mainly concerned about infection somehow occurring due to the stuff on the sides of the flask / underneath the tinfoil. What do you guys think?

 

[kh54s10]

If the overflow won't cause any problems I would just let it come out from under the foil. I would try to avoid both an airlock and a blow off tube. The yeast need the oxygen to reproduce. An airlock or blowoff tube will keep the yeast from getting the oxygen they need.

You could sanitize a spoon and scoop out some of the foam if you wanted to.

I suggest you get a scale and weigh your DME. It is far more accurate than volume which will change with how densely the powder is packed into the measuring cup. 1 liter needs 100 grams, 1.5 L gets 150 grams, 2 liters get 200 grams etc.

 

[Crumb93]

If the overflow won't cause any problems I would just let it come out from under the foil. I would try to avoid both an airlock and a blow off tube. The yeast need the oxygen to reproduce. An airlock or blowoff tube will keep the yeast from getting the oxygen they need.

You could sanitize a spoon and scoop out some of the foam if you wanted to.

I suggest you get a scale and weigh your DME. It is far more accurate than volume which will change with how densely the powder is packed into the measuring cup. 1 liter needs 100 grams, 1.5 L gets 150 grams, 2 liters get 200 grams etc.

I'm actually weighing the DME. I weigh out to whatever Brewer's Friend or Mr. Malty say I need, and then I break things down to the DME / water ratio.

I've just never seen anything concrete on how all of that should be broken down. I think I've got the DME thing down... but the water still gets me sometimes I think. I saw the 2 cups water to, 1/2 cups DME ratio in a video online and then I've seen in repeated in a couple of forums. I've seen differing opinions too though.

I guess gravity is ultimately what it comes down to. :smack:

 

[kh54s10]

The 1-10 ratio gives approximately 1.038.

 

[fuzzy2133]

If it is from "The Yeast Bay" out of San Leandro, CA yes 4 months before use by date is correct for the bottling date.

You are good to go let her foam! On another note looks like the viability was better than the lab calculated.

 

[revco]

I'm mainly concerned about infection somehow occurring due to the stuff on the sides of the flask / underneath the tinfoil. What do you guys think?

I read some awesome advice here, wish I could find it, but it's one of the funniest, true things I've read about brewing. To paraphrase, things that can infect your brew or starters (which aren't very many to begin with) aren't urban climbers with acrobatic skills, seeking out your precious wort with hawk like vision. They're not going to get up from across the room, climb up your flask and do a backflip into your starter. They can't crawl, walk, cartwheel or slither their way into your precious beer.

Nay, they float in the air and then have to find near perfect circumstances to breed a colony that will be able to compete with yeast. So long as you clean & sanitize your gear and everything that touches cool wort/beer, keep it (mostly) covered most of the time and don't do something silly like point a fan on your fermenters or flask, there is a very low chance of any issues.

When you pour the flask, just make sure you do it quickly/purposefully and don't dribble it into the fermenter down the side of the flask, if possible. The stuff under the foil should be sanitary, knowing the above, so there's very little to worry about.

Hope that helps!

 

[ChefRex]

Been there myself, put it on a plate to contain any mess and relax