Toss Slow Yeast Starter?

[wepeeler]

Planning on brewing tomorrow and I hate dumping 1.5 L starters into the brew but I guess it’s too late to cold crash and decant, eh?

Nah man. Crash it now. Decant what you feel comfortable with, and pitch the rest!

 

[Pancoastbrewing]

Nah man. Crash it now. Decant what you feel comfortable with, and pitch the rest!

Thanks for your help!

 

[IslandLizard]

Nah man. Crash it now. Decant what you feel comfortable with, and pitch the rest!

Exactly my thoughts. The starter beer on top looks pretty clear already. Crash as long as possible. Take out of fridge an hour before pitching (not brewing), decant, then let the slurry come to room temps during that hour.

 

[Pancoastbrewing]

Exactly my thoughts. The starter beer on top looks pretty clear already. Crash as long as possible. Take out of fridge an hour before pitching (not brewing), decant, then let the slurry come to room temps during that hour.

Have you ever seen a starter not even have a tiny krausen? It sounds like you continuously use the stir plate so maybe you haven’t.

 

[IslandLizard]

Have you ever seen a starter not even have a tiny krausen? It sounds like you continuously use the stir plate so maybe you haven’t.

I did stir (I shake now) continuously. I hear what you're saying, there's usually some sort of foam developing. But if the yeast multiplies fast, you may miss it.
From what I understand, fermentation of a continuously aerated or oxygenated starter is a side effect. The yeast needs to ferment some for her metabolism, the oxygen supply helps her build sterols for healthy budding, which is what we're after.

Before I had a stir plate, too many times I lost half the yeast culture to the countertop, and always overnight. It almost became a game of cat and mouse. Switching to a gallon wine jug really helped keeping the starters inside. There's only a genuine need for a (flat bottomed) flask when using a stir plate.

 

[Pancoastbrewing]

I did stir (I shake now) continuously. I hear what you're saying, there's usually some sort of foam developing. But if the yeast multiplies fast, you may miss it.
From what I understand, fermentation of a continuously aerated or oxygenated starter is a side effect. The yeast needs to ferment some for her metabolism, the oxygen supply helps her build sterols for healthy budding, which is what we're after.

Before I had a stir plate, too many times I lost half the yeast culture to the countertop, and always overnight. It almost became a game of cat and mouse. Switching to a gallon wine jug really helped keeping the starters inside. There's only a genuine need for a (flat bottomed) flask when using a stir plate.

That’s exactly why I don’t continuously use the stir plate. I have a 2 L flask and a 1.5 L starter definitely has the potential to get too worked up and literally push the foam stopper almost out of the flask. I do also use a gallon jug for bigger starters, and then of course shaking is the preferred method.

 

[IslandLizard]

That’s exactly why I don’t continuously use the stir plate. I have a 2 L flask and a 1.5 L starter definitely has the potential to get too worked up and literally push the foam stopper almost out of the flask. I do also use a gallon jug for bigger starters, and then of course shaking is the preferred method.

I add a drop of Fermcap to my starter wort. No more boil overs or excessive foaming while boiling for a few minutes.
Seems to reduce excessive foaming in the starter vessel too.
IMO, continuous stirring prevents foam overs. Stop the stirrer and it's no different than a jar on the countertop => explosive blow off.

I have 2 orbital lab shakers. I can place 4 2-liter flasks and/or 1/2 gallon pickle jars, or 2 1-gallon jugs, on each.

 

[Pancoastbrewing]

I add a drop of Fermcap to my starter wort. No more boil overs or excessive foaming while boiling for a few minutes.
Seems to reduce excessive foaming in the starter vessel too.
IMO, continuous stirring prevents foam overs. Stop the stirrer and it's no different than a jar on the countertop => explosive blow off.

I have 2 orbital lab shakers. I can place 4 2-liter flasks and/or 1/2 gallon pickle jars, or 2 1-gallon jugs, on each.

Wow you’ve really invested! My Maelstrom stir plate seems to be on the fritz. Kind of a bummer for $150

 

[z-bob]

I glued a washer to the center of a variable-speed computer fan and stuck two little neodymium magnets to it for a stirplate. The only problem is, the stirbar sometimes spins out. I think that's because my flasks have slightly domed bottoms. I bought a beaker, thinking it might be flatter, but haven't tested it yet.

 

[Pancoastbrewing]

I glued a washer to the center of a variable-speed computer fan and stuck two little neodymium magnets to it for a stirplate. The only problem is, the stirbar sometimes spins out. I think that's because my flasks have slightly domed bottoms. I bought a beaker, thinking it might be flatter, but haven't tested it yet.

I’m always amazed at the ingenuity of homebrewers. I mess up enough in the brewing process, I wouldn’t attempt something like that!

 

[IslandLizard]

Wow you’ve really invested! My Maelstrom stir plate seems to be on the fritz. Kind of a bummer for $150

The best thing is, I didn't invest a dime on those shakers, they came from a friend who worked at a lab, they decommissioned stuff on a regular basis. These are the real thing, heavy duty, weigh 40+ pounds. They live on the floor or they'll shake the whole house.

Sorry to hear about your Maelstrom, for that price they should last a lifetime. What's wrong with it? Perhaps take it up with the manufacturer?

 

[IslandLizard]

I glued a washer to the center of a variable-speed computer fan and stuck two little neodymium magnets to it for a stirplate. The only problem is, the stirbar sometimes spins out. I think that's because my flasks have slightly domed bottoms. I bought a beaker, thinking it might be flatter, but haven't tested it yet.

If there's good magnetic coupling, it should not throw the stir bar, even if there's a slight curvature. Get those magnets as close to the bottom of the flask as possible, and match the distance between them to the stir bar length.

 

[Pancoastbrewing]

The best thing is, I didn't invest a dime on those shakers, they came from a friend who worked at a lab, they decommissioned stuff on a regular basis. These are the real thing, heavy duty, weigh 40+ pounds. They live on the floor or they'll shake the whole house.

Sorry to hear about your Maelstrom, for that price they should last a lifetime. What's wrong with it? Perhaps take it up with the manufacturer?

There are no longer 5 speeds. You press the speed button and the spinner (not sure what else to call it) hardly turns and the speed button just flashes instead of staying solid. I haven’t looked into what the problem might be but I bought it well over a year ago so I doubt the warranty is still valid.

 

[kh54s10]

I skipped a bunch of the replies, but on my stirplate I more often get NO krausen than a thick layer. I look to the color mostly. It should go from a somewhat clear medium brown to an opaque creamy color. Think coffee with a good amount of cream.

The the final determination is to turn off the stirplate and/or cold crash and see what the layer of yeast that settles looks like.

I would say the first one was dumped unnecessarily.

 

[IslandLizard]

I’m always amazed at the ingenuity of homebrewers. I mess up enough in the brewing process, I wouldn’t attempt something like that!

We have many threads on homebuilt stirplates, it's one of the easiest projects, using a computer fan and some neodymium magnets. A $10-20 project, and some ingenuity, yes, if that.

Now one should expect the Maelstrom to be 20 notches above most DIY builds and last a lifetime of brewing.
I'd still find out what warranty you got with it. Look for a fix, you can't be the only one?

 

[z-bob]

If there's good magnetic coupling, it should not throw the stir bar, even if there's a slight curvature. Get those magnets as close to the bottom of the flask as possible, and match the distance between them to the stir bar length.

Thanks, I will see if I can shim the magnets to get them closer to the flask.

 

[bracconiere]

I have trouble throwing away a used Kleenex if it looks like it has one more use in it

i know i'm late to the party, but that's what a handkerchief is for....just throw them in with the laundry, also make a decent hat....

 

[Pancoastbrewing]

I skipped a bunch of the replies, but on my stirplate I more often get NO krausen than a thick layer. I look to the color mostly. It should go from a somewhat clear medium brown to an opaque creamy color. Think coffee with a good amount of cream.

The the final determination is to turn off the stirplate and/or cold crash and see what the layer of yeast that settles looks like.

I would say the first one was dumped unnecessarily.

You’re probably right. Live and learn like with all things brewing

 

[Pancoastbrewing]

We have many threads on homebuilt stirplates, it's one of the easiest projects, using a computer fan and some neodymium magnets. A $10-20 project, and some ingenuity, yes, if that.

Now one should expect the Maelstrom to be 20 notches above most DIY builds and last a lifetime of brewing.
I'd still find out what warranty you got with it. Look for a fix, you can't be the only one?

I bought it in June ‘18. Trying to find warranty but so far unsuccessful

 

[Pancoastbrewing]

Just as an update...I pitched the seemingly inactive starter into a 1.054 wort about 3 hours ago and I’m akready seeing co2 blowoff. Guess it was ok after all

 

[z-bob]

If there's good magnetic coupling, it should not throw the stir bar, even if there's a slight curvature. Get those magnets as close to the bottom of the flask as possible, and match the distance between them to the stir bar length.

I added 2 more magnets, and it doesn't throw the stirbar anymore.
Steel washers are a lot cheaper than magnets so I'll probably get another washer and glue it on top so the extra magnets can go back on the fridge.

 

[kh54s10]

I added 2 more magnets, and it doesn't throw the stirbar anymore.
Steel washers are a lot cheaper than magnets so I'll probably get another washer and glue it on top so the extra magnets can go back on the fridge.

What are steel washers going to do? It takes magnets to turn the stirbar.

 

[z-bob]

What are steel washers going to do? It takes magnets to turn the stirbar.

The steel washer will raise the magnets up about 1/8 inch. I will still have magnets, just 2 or 4 instead of the 6 I have right now. The steel also keeps the magnetic flux out of the motor; these magnets are strong enough to maybe keep the motor from working.

 

[kh54s10]

The steel washer will raise the magnets up about 1/8 inch. I will still have magnets, just 2 or 4 instead of the 6 I have right now. The steel also keeps the magnetic flux out of the motor; these magnets are strong enough to maybe keep the motor from working.

Makes sense, if the magnets remaining are strong enough.

 

[IslandLizard]

The steel washer will raise the magnets up about 1/8 inch. I will still have magnets, just 2 or 4 instead of the 6 I have right now. The steel also keeps the magnetic flux out of the motor; these magnets are strong enough to maybe keep the motor from working.

Just to clarify, the steel washer should be underneath the magnets. Together with the stir bar on top it closes the magnetic field for maximum coupling.

 

[z-bob]

Just to clarify, the steel washer should be underneath the magnets. Together with the stir bar on top it closes the magnetic field for maximum coupling.

Yes I know that, I just stated it very poorly. The new washer goes on top of the old washer, and the magnets on top of that. The washers actually help a little by coupling the magnets into kind of a horseshoe.