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[EyePeeA]

Need help verifying yeast starter stats...

1.060 OG
4 gallon batch size
167 billion cells needed
1 vial WLP001
23% viability
Production date 10/10/12

I believe I would need to make a 2-step starter:

1 liter with 3.3 oz. DME (Intermittent Shaking for 1 day)

then another,

1 liter with 3.3 oz. DME (Intermittent Shaking for 1 day)

Decant and pitch. Is this correct?

 

[thegame310]

With that OG, I would think a 1 step starter would be enough.

 

[EyePeeA]

Even at 23% viability? The yeast expires Feb 10, 2013. My brew date is this Friday, Jan 25th. Making the starter right now. Used www.yeastcalc.com, but I want to verify the data.

 

[EyePeeA]

Anyone? I found the calculator a little difficult to understand.

I will be stepping up this starter today with the above prescribed method unless I hear otherwise.

 

[thegame310]

Sorry, I signed off for the night after I gave my response.

I still think you would be okay with 23% viability, but on the other hand stepping up your starter surely won't hurt matters.

 

[jflongo]

They "say" anything under 1060, a smack pack is enough for a 5 gallon batch. Since you are at 4 gallons, I'm surprised it's 167, but none the less, doing a 2 liter starter should double to around 200 billion. So if you do a 1 liter starter "i'm guessing" that puts you around 150 billion. Maybe you could scale up your starter a "hair" and then it would be around 160 - 170.

 

[EyePeeA]

They "say" anything under 1060, a smack pack is enough for a 5 gallon batch.

I think that is assuming you are using a fresh vial of yeast.

Mr Malty shows:

4 gallon batch
167 billions cells needed
4 vials for a starter at 23% viability (7.2 vials w/o starter)
1 Liter Starter
Intermittent Shaking

What I'm getting from Yeast Calc, which seems to be a bit more thorough, is that:

A one-step starter, assuming 1 liter & 3.47 oz. DME will only give you 85 billion cells. However, another step with an additional 1 liter & 3.47 oz. DME will give you 174 billion cells in the end.

So I just want to verify if that procedure is accurate vs. the advice that is being offered in this thread. That is, a two-step starter totaling 2 liters and 6.94 oz. DME.

 

[jflongo]

Based on that then, yes I think a two-step you are good.