Time to up my yeast lab game

[mavrick1903]

Flask suggestions? or is everyone just using a growler? Looking for size and source suggestions

 

[KevinW]

I use both. Mostly I use a 2L flask on my stirplate. I still keep the growler around though!

Eventually I will get a 4 or 5 liter flask for when I start doing lagers but I have been quite happy with my 2L!

 

[passedpawn]

Flask suggestions? or is everyone just using a growler? Looking for size and source suggestions

The best solution is a 1L and a 4L (or 5L).

When you want to step up a small amount of yeast, you need to start with a small starter (i.e., 250 or 500mL), then step it up. That's hard to do with a 5L flask if you use a stir plate - tons of splashing and stir bar instability.

But more importantly, when you step up from the 1L to the 5L, you can boil your DME and stir bar in the larger flask and just pour from the small one to the bigger one. Stepping up is very easy with two.

 

[mavrick1903]

Stir bars are boilable?

 

[CrazedArmadillo]

Stir bars are boilable?

Yep. Standard stir bars are just magnets coated in Teflon. Teflon melts at 327°C, so boiling is perfectly safe.

 

[passedpawn]

Absolutely make sure you have some Fermcap-S on hand before you boil wort in a flask. You've been warned. And put the stir bar in before the boil, now while. In fact, don't add anything once it's close to boiling. It will erupt.

 

[spazzy]

Absolutely make sure you have some Fermcap-S on hand before you boil wort in a flask. You've been warned. And put the stir bar in before the boil, now while. In fact, don't add anything once it's close to boiling. It will erupt.

I believe this is called bumping or superheating, try scratching an X into the bottom of the flask, or adding some boiling stones. Gotta love organic chem lab being useful :rockin:

 

[kappclark]

I used to think a 1L was too big, now i use a 2L on a stirplate...results are good. Have not started the bottle culturing, or making slants.

www.cynmar.com for a fabulous variety of yeast lab equipment

 

[phoenixs4r]

Half gallon jugs are a great starter vessel. Pick up a half gallon of cheap wine from a CVS let the old lady get drunk and have yourself a good starter vessel.

Don't put them on a stove tho.....

 

[franklinswheat]

I use a half gallon glass milk bottles. There is an organic dairy not far from where I live and they bottle in half gallon old school glass bottles. The deposit is like 2.50. Two weeks worth of milk and I had two perfect starter jugs. First time I topped with aluminum foil second time I realized the rubber stopper and air lock fits perfectly into the hole on top.

 

[jsled]

I use a half gallon glass milk bottles. There is an organic dairy not far from where I live and they bottle in half gallon old school glass bottles. The deposit is like 2.50. Two weeks worth of milk and I had two perfect starter jugs. First time I topped with aluminum foil second time I realized the rubber stopper and air lock fits perfectly into the hole on top.

If you're using them for starters on a stir-plate, you want to use the foil rather than the airlock. The stirring allows for O₂ to be mixed in, promoting yeast reproduction and health, and if you've airlocked all the O₂ away, that's not going to help.