Odd starter activity Wyeast 1968

[Komocabo]

Good Morning,

I've made plenty of starters, but this is the first time I've used Wyeast 1968 (London ESB).

I made the starter with 2L RO water, 200g Light DME, added 1/2tsp yeast nutrient, and probably 8 drops overall of Fermcap AT.

MADE the starter on Wednesday night. Yeasterday (Thursday) I noticed that nothing was moving cuz the stirbar got kicked off center. Oops. So I just turned it back on. When I did that, there was a huge gush of CO2 (odd). Didn't lose much, and it settled back down in seconds.

Move forward to today: this is what it looks like... Huge flaked of yeast swirling around the bottom... Apparently I can't attach the video I took from my phone...

Should I just toss it and get new yeast? Is this healthy activity for this strain? I use a LOT of 1056 and have never seen this before.

Thanks!

 

[trentm]

Good Morning,

I've made plenty of starters, but this is the first time I've used Wyeast 1968 (London ESB).

I made the starter with 2L RO water, 200g Light DME, added 1/2tsp yeast nutrient, and probably 8 drops overall of Fermcap AT.

MADE the starter on Wednesday night. Yeasterday (Thursday) I noticed that nothing was moving cuz the stirbar got kicked off center. Oops. So I just turned it back on. When I did that, there was a huge gush of CO2 (odd). Didn't lose much, and it settled back down in seconds.

Move forward to today: this is what it looks like... Huge flaked of yeast swirling around the bottom... Apparently I can't attach the video I took from my phone...

Should I just toss it and get new yeast? Is this healthy activity for this strain? I use a LOT of 1056 and have never seen this before.

Thanks!

I've often observed the "gush of CO2" and foaming when a starter is left unstirred, so that seems normal to me. Although I have never used Wyeast 1968, it is said to be very flocculant. You are probably just observing yeast flocs. Seems like you're good to go.

 

[Majafoo]

Oh yeah! Super flocculation powers activated. I love the way it turns to egg drop soup when it's done. That's completely normal!

 

[MindenMan]

Yup, ESB 1968 is one mother flocker. My house strain for years was ESB 1968, and what you are seeing is normal.

 

[Komocabo]

Whew! Well, I'm glad I checked cuz I was about to toss it. Instead I put it in the fridge to cold crash. Gonna step it up again tonight for Sunday brew. Excellent news folks!

Egg flower soup is a PERFECT explanation.