Quick Question on Yeast Starter

[tooblue02]

Couldn't find answer through forum search so hopefully someone can chime in quickly...

Can you make a starter from dry yeast? I assume the answer is yes and I should do it the same way I have been for liquid yeast correct? I have seen some varying responses on other sites and was hoping the folks here could chime in. My reason is that I typically have better beer when using starters and my LHBS does not carry a wide variety of liquid yeast. I have made some great beer with dry yeast but wanted to know what the thoughts are on here. Thanks!!!

 

[Hoppity]

Yes is the quick answer, but not necessary in most cases. The best strategy is go to the manufacturer's website and follow their product-specific instructions.

 

[flars]

The answer is yes. Often it is not necessary with dry yeast, unless you are brewing a high gravity beer. Most often rehydrating the yeast before pitching will provide the number of yeast cells you need. Rehydrated dry yeast will provide the cell count you need for a beer up to approximately 1.058 OG.

When making a starter with dry yeast, the yeast must be properly rehydrated before pitching into the starter wort or your starter will be counter productive, ending with fewer cells than the dry yeast packet contained.

http://www.brewwithfermentis.com/tips-tricks/yeast-rehydration/

Don't use RO or distilled water for rehydration. The lack of minerals will cause damage to the cell walls of the yeast.

 

[h22lude]

Like the others have said, you can but no need. There have been a lot of posts on rehydrating vs not rehydrating. You can do either. I prefer to rehydrate as most companies tell you to on the packet or on their website. It wakes the yeasts up.

The reason for a starter is yeast growth and get them ready to eat. Liquid vials don't have as many yeast cells as dry packets. Liquid has around 120 billion where a dry 11g packet has 220 billion. An average 1.050 beer needs about 200 billion so the dry packet is perfect where as the liquid vial isn't. That is where a starter would come into play. You can always buy two liquid vials to get the amount of cells you need but it is expensive. If you need more dry yeast, you are spending a lot less money to buy two. You can get two dry yeasts for the price of 1 vial. So for the same money you get 440 billion cells over 120 billion.

I'm not saying one is better than the other. I'm more giving you reasons why a starter is a good thing for liquid vials but not needed for dry.