Starters

[lostforatime]

What is a yeast starter? How does it work? Is it better?

 

[Beer Weevel]

Yes it is better, How it works is you make a small amount of wort at least 16 oz to about 32 oz with either DME or and all grain wort (some brewers make a batch of wort 10gallons and then can it in quart mason jars to use in making starters) and then about 3 to 5 days before brew day you sanitize a container and pitch the yeast and the starter wort into the container. when brew day arrives when you pitch, your pitching with a larger concentration of yeast.

 

[Reverend JC]

The higher the yeast count when you pitch the better. There is less lag time until fermentation starts and thus lowers the possibility of off flavors, infections, everything that can go bad with brewing. So yes, a starter is a better way to go.

 

[aekdbbop]

1. boil 1/2 cup of Dried Light Malt Extract and 650ml of water
2. pour into a 1000ml or 2000ml flask
3. cool it down to room temp in an ice bath
4. pitch your yeast
5. shake it up
6. put an air lock on and wait

when you see a lot of action, it is time to brew! Stir it up to resuspend the yeast, and pitch the whole thing into your wort.

most online HBS have yeast starter kits for 12 bucks or so... well worth it IMO

 

[Lord Sterrock Hammerson 8]

Link With Some Starter Info

 

[Evan!]

I agree entirely. I never pitch liquid yeast without making a starter. I highly recommend my method...cheap, easy and effective.

Take about 7 ounces of malt extract and boil it in a LITER of water for 15 minutes. Cool it down. Then take an empty gallon spring water jug (milk jug style) and, using a butterfly drill bit, drill a hole in the cap to fit a small stopper. Sanitize it with StarSan, etc., and add the cooled wort and liquid yeast. Put the stopper and an airlock in the cap, and stir/shake it gently. Allow at least 12 hours, preferably 18+, for proper propagation.

 

[silver02ws6]

I think this is somthing i may have to start doing for my homebrew. ALthough my first two batches were bubbling with in just an hour or two with just pitching the dry yeast that came with the kit.

Austin

 

[Torchiest]

Dry yeast doesn't need a starter really, because it's already got a large number of cells. Liquid yeast is what you make starters with, because you want to increase the amount of yeast cells before pitching into the wort.