Sigh. So I already screwed up.

[mlfarrell]

Brewing my second batch this weekend. I decided to make a yeast starter for this one.

I managed to screw up the sanitizer concentration that I used to sanitize my flask and tin foil covering for it. I managed to do 0.25 oz of iostar to 1 liter after mixing up the math. I should’ve known something was wrong when the sanitizer solution was much darker than usual.

I rinsed my flask in this and spray-bottled the liquid yeast packet and everything else with it.

now I’m worried that I killed the yeast or drastically weakened it with too much iodine.

brew day is on Saturday and I’m wondering if I should just start the starter over tomorrow before it’s too late.

 

[madscientist451]

No activity in the flask?
I don't do the tin foil on top thing, I just use a jug, a stopper and an airlock so I can see it bubbling.
Also, I make up 2.5 gallons of sanitizer in a bucket so I always have some when I need it. With Star-san, its 1/2 oz for 2.5 gallons.
Looks like IO-star is the same mixing rate, so yes, the yeast might be dead.

 

[micraftbeer]

It depends on how you used it. Assuming you used it to sanitize things, then let it dry, maybe not. You may have just gone overboard with killing whatever might have been there before.

Maybe your higher concentration will leave more sanitizer lingering on the surface after the water part of your mix evaporates. But as @madscientist451 alludes to, if you still have activity in your starter, it means you didn't kill your yeast.

 

[jdauria]

Is your starter on a stir plate or are you just swirling it now and then? If on a stir plate, you are less like to see a krausen form in the starter.

 

[Grizwold1]

It's a rare brew day that I don't screw up at least once. Used to brew 10 gallon batches and thus as the only imbiber only brewed every two or three months. That down time never let me get into a real routine, I guess. Now, with the Anvil Foundry I'm at c. 3 gallons at a time with the idea of more frequent brew days--maybe that will help me with my consistency. Or not.

 

[mlfarrell]

Here's some photos of the beer starter after ~12 hours or so. It seems to be at least somewhat active. After swirling it some CO2 released and popped out the tinfoil a bit and it slightly fizzed.

i.e. if its doing anything at all i prob didn't kill it off. Unless that idea of weaking it with the strong solution is still an issue but probably not an issue if I have activity right?

edit: this is fastpitch btw.

 

[micraftbeer]

Yeah, you've got signs of life. Not vigorous, but it ain't dead

 

[mlfarrell]

It seems to be picking up a bit, and fizzed quite a bit when I gave it a good swirl (almost was worried it'd bubble over). So am I in the clear or should I be concerned about lack of vigor? I've read that krausen isn't exactly a good indicator of a healthy starter due to several factors

 

[palmtrees]

It seems to be picking up a bit, and fizzed quite a bit when I gave it a good swirl (almost was worried it'd bubble over). So am I in the clear or should I be concerned about lack of vigor? I've read that krausen isn't exactly a good indicator of a healthy starter due to several factors

I think you're definitely in the clear. That looks like a totally normal starter. You can let it go a bit longer to make sure the yeast is done growing, then either pitch the whole thing or pop it in the fridge for a day or two and then decant most of the starter beer. The yeast slurry in the bottom will keep in a sanitized and lidded jar in the fridge for a while, if you need, too.

 

[mlfarrell]

I think you're definitely in the clear. That looks like a totally normal starter. You can let it go a bit longer to make sure the yeast is done growing, then either pitch the whole thing or pop it in the fridge for a day or two and then decant most of the starter beer. The yeast slurry in the bottom will keep in a sanitized and lidded jar in the fridge for a while, if you need, too.

cool. Yea I’m going to leave it on counter until tomorrow then put in fridge since I plan to decant.