Substitute DME for X in Starter...?

[jhiggy]

I'm going to make a batch of SkeeterPee this weekend and I don't have an active yeast cake to use so I was thinking of trying my hand at making a yeast starter. The only problem I have is that I'm really allergic to Barley, so I need to stay away from DME. What other alternatives do I have? Are there DME's without Barley in them? (Seems counter-intuitive but who knows...) Thanks for any help!

-Jeff

 

[porterpounder]

Honey water, non-preservative apple juice or sugar water will work. All malt extract made for brewers will likely contain some barley, even wheat extract which is usually 50/50.

 

[william_shakes_beer]

I made skeeter pee once. The reason beer brewing recommends DME is to condition the yeast to ferment maltose, a more compllex sugar than cane sugar. (table sugar) if you're making skeeter pee, however, the fermentables come primaraully from the sugar you add, so use that sugar instead.

 

[Minbari]

maybe wear gloves?

 

[freisste]

maybe wear gloves?

I would imagine the issue is with imbibing, not just contacting.

 

[tacks]

You're already using table sugar in the recipe, why not use it for the starter too? Either that or honey, maple sugar, brown sugar, sorghum LME, you have more options than you realize, I think.