Starter wort evaporation

[Cajunbrewer87]

Just made a starter wort, 1500 ml with 150 grams of dme. I now only have 1200 ml left after evaporation, do I add 300 ml of water to the flask? Im sure the gravity is too high now

 

[Cajunbrewer87]

I sterilized my hydrometer and tube and took a quick sample and poured it back in..it was right at 1.040. Kinda risky I guess but since i sterilized i should be fine eh?

 

[flars]

You could add the 300 ml back with boiled and chilled water. SG for a starter from 1.036 to 1.040 is okay though. I wouldn't add the water if you will still get the growth rate needed.

 

[Cajunbrewer87]

Thanks. Yeah I wont add water now that I know the gravity is 1.040

 

[kh54s10]

I am confused. A starter given the amount of dme and water you started from should be maximum of 1.040. If you ran the starter for 18-24 hours on a stir plate or 36-48 hours with intermittent shaking you will have reproduction and some fermentation so the gravity should be lower. Since it is not long enough for full fermentation like in a true beer, it would not be as low as in a brew fermentation.

 

[Cajunbrewer87]

So my gravity should be lower for a starter? Ive been doing a good bit of research and everyone says between 1.030 and 1.040, even Jamil said that on the yeast starter episode of brew strong

 

[Cajunbrewer87]

This is my first starter and second batch of beer so I'm just hoping Im doing this right haha

 

[MichaelBrock]

I think some of us are confused at where you are with the starter
. Are you referring to the water you lost from the boil? So you haven't added your yeast yet which is why you are still at 1.040. 1.040 is great for most starters... before you add the yeast
The gravity will obviously go down as it ferments and you should not lose much, if any, water to evaporation

 

[Cajunbrewer87]

Oh haha sorry for not clarifying. yeah im waiting for it to cool so ican pitch the yeast.I typed it in a rush, should have read it again. Thanks for the help everyone

 

[Singletrack]

I sterilized my hydrometer and tube and took a quick sample and poured it back in..it was right at 1.040. Kinda risky I guess but since i sterilized i should be fine eh?

I think you did exactly the right thing. I don't understand all the consternation over returning a gravity sample. Why would this be so much riskier than putting beer in a bottle and capping it? Oh no! That could result in an infection! And yet, with any care at all, we continue to drink beer that is not infected. Good work! You solved your problem and answered your question without the confused input of others. (Most of us drink, you know.)

 

[Cajunbrewer87]

Good to know! Unfortunately I wasn't able to get nutrients to add to the starter. Will this make a big difference? The yeast is white labs wlp002

 

[Singletrack]

I usually add nutrients, but when I don't, no problem. The wort has all the nutrients needed, apparently.