Should I do a yeast starter on a 1.5 gallon batch and only a few hours until brewing?

[linusstick]

I just started brewing again and am going on batch 5 today. I'm doing small 1-1.5 gallon BIAB batches. Every beer I've done I've gotten closer and closer to my targets but am still a good bit off of my FG every time. With the small amount I am brewing I am not using a whole packet of dry yeast or a full package of liquid yeast. The beer I'm doing today will be a founders breakfast stout clone and I'm wondering if I should do a whole package of liquid yeast and do a starter. Would pitching too much yeast be as bad as pitching not enough? I think I should either do a full packet of yeast this time and maybe even do a starter, which is my second question. If I'm going to be brewing in a few hours would doing a starter now even benefit me at all? Eventually I willl get back to doing 5 gallon beers but until I nail my process down I'm doing these small amounts.

 

[cswis86]

I would use the whole package and not make a starter. If you're still having attenuation problems you might want to consider making adjustments to your mash schedule or try a different yeast strain.

 

[brew_darrymore]

Just use dry rehydrated yeast. You'll probably be fine with half a packet, or use the whole packet. It would be an overpitch, but that's generally better than an underpitch. Overpitching will help you get to that FG that you said you've been struggling with.

 

[GrimBrewer]

You can use 1/4 to 1/3 of the yeast. I only cut the corner of the pack. Fold it close a few times, seal it wth a wasing pin then into a small plastic bag. Then stored in tupperware in my fridge wth my other yeast. I currenlty have open saison, us05 and a lager. Havent had issues yet.

 

[linusstick]

Just use dry rehydrated yeast. You'll probably be fine with half a packet, or use the whole packet. It would be an overpitch, but that's generally better than an underpitch. Overpitching will help you get to that FG that you said you've been struggling with.

Won't overpitching contribute off flavors? If not I wouldn't mind using a whole package of liquid yeast.

 

[brew_darrymore]

One pack of dry yeast per 1-1.5 gallon is not a major overpitch. You'll end up with a cleaner fermentation that produces less esters and you'll have better attenuation. On the other hand, underpitching can be a cause for a multitude of off flavours.

Edit: just noticed you want to use a liquid yeast package. You should be fine to use the whole package in a small batch without a starter. Founder's breakfast stout is a high OG stout, you'd need about 80bn cells for a 1.5 gallon batch. One liquid yeast pack offers around 100bn cells, unless it's 3-4 months old.