stepping up question

[vera]

I'm getting ready to brew an AG Bohemian pilsner (Lager of course)
I'm using WLP802 best before May 11-12.
OG will be aprox 1.055.
I have only one vial of yeast. My brewing date is flexible. I started 1.5 liter, 1.040 starter last night, using a stirplate. My flask is 2000ml.
Yeastcalc and Mr.malty and various other sources have me confused.
What is the best way to Step up this starter for my required 411 billion (as per yeast calc) cells?
I was thinking about splitting up my first starter, putting half away and making another starter with the other half.
Does this sound right? If so, how many times should I do this?
Thanks!

 

[optimatored]

I'm getting ready to brew an AG Bohemian pilsner (Lager of course)
I'm using WLP802 best before May 11-12.
OG will be aprox 1.055.
I have only one vial of yeast. My brewing date is flexible. I started 1.5 liter, 1.040 starter last night, using a stirplate. My flask is 2000ml.
Yeastcalc and Mr.malty and various other sources have me confused.
What is the best way to Step up this starter for my required 411 billion (as per yeast calc) cells?
I was thinking about splitting up my first starter, putting half away and making another starter with the other half.
Does this sound right? If so, how many times should I do this?
Thanks!

With a stir plate you are going to get great growth rates... once fermentation is complete, cold crash, decant, and pitch your starter into a 2 maybe 3L starter on the stir plate. That will definitely get you over 400 billion cells.

 

[badbrew]

Just use yeastcalc. With new yeast, if you do a 1.5L and then split it in half, you should need a 3L on the second step. I just did a lager with old yeast. I did 1L and then 3L and it is bubbling away.

 

[vera]

With a stir plate you are going to get great growth rates... once fermentation is complete, cold crash, decant, and pitch your starter into a 2 maybe 3L starter on the stir plate. That will definitely get you over 400 billion cells.

I only have a 2L flask. That's why I was thinking about decanting and splitting the first starter.

 

[optimatored]

Splitting is fine... i have a 2.5gal better bottle that i use. Same end result

 

[vera]

So how should I deal with this if I only have a 2 L flask? Will a 1 gallon milk jug work on stir plate?

 

[optimatored]

Just use your 2L flask then... decant as much liquid as possible. And put another 1.75 of starter fluid on top. With a stir plate u shud end up with about 400 billion...yeast concentration is about 2.4 billion per ml according to mr malty when left to settle for a few days... so if end up with about 170 ml after decanting the 1st step up u will be good.

 

[vera]

Just use your 2L flask then... decant as much liquid as possible. And put another 1.75 of starter fluid on top. With a stir plate u shud end up with about 400 billion...yeast concentration is about 2.4 billion per ml according to mr malty when left to settle for a few days... so if end up with about 170 ml after decanting the 1st step up u will be good.

Thanks! That totally makes sense now.