What to do with smack pack

[Andyoesq]

So I wanted to try a Wyeast smack pack, just to try one. I smacked it, let it start growing, and started brew day. I didn't read the instructions close enough, and went a little over board with my grains, and buy batch is going to be well above the 1.060 they recommend for the smack pack. I don't have enough time to make a starter and let it grow.
So here is my idea. Make some 1.040 wort with DME, and throw it on the stir plate, let it grow for two or three days, and the jar it in 3 pint ball jars, and chill it for later use. Kind of like turn the smack pack into 3 jars of pitch able batches.
1) I am assuming in theory this will work, no? I've never tried it, and never used my stir plate. But I think theoretically it should work.
2) how long should I leave it on the stir plate? It stays it has 100 billion cells, and I'm putting it in 1.5 l of 1.040 wort.

Thanks

 

[RM-MN]

I'd pitch that smack pack but make sure to aerate the wort as good as you can because your yeast pitch will be a little small and you need all the yeast growth you can get.

 

[cjones]

I'd pitch that smack pack but make sure to aerate the wort as good as you can because your yeast pitch will be a little small and you need all the yeast growth you can get.

+1

go over board on aeration - relax and be excited it should be awesome.

extra options but not really needed - just options

I might go to the local homebrew store today or tomorrow and pick up some yeast nutrients- again I might do this depending on how far over 1.060 you are.

while your at the homebrew if money is not an option or you dont think you will ever use any yeast nutrients ever again - get one more smack pack.

 

[specharka]

So I wanted to try a Wyeast smack pack, just to try one. I smacked it, let it start growing, and started brew day. I didn't read the instructions close enough, and went a little over board with my grains, and buy batch is going to be well above the 1.060 they recommend for the smack pack. I don't have enough time to make a starter and let it grow.
So here is my idea. Make some 1.040 wort with DME, and throw it on the stir plate, let it grow for two or three days, and the jar it in 3 pint ball jars, and chill it for later use. Kind of like turn the smack pack into 3 jars of pitch able batches.
1) I am assuming in theory this will work, no? I've never tried it, and never used my stir plate. But I think theoretically it should work.
2) how long should I leave it on the stir plate? It stays it has 100 billion cells, and I'm putting it in 1.5 l of 1.040 wort.

Thanks

Couple of things you should be aware of:

1) The brewer's friend yeast starter calculator is an absolute necessity:

http://www.brewersfriend.com/yeast-pitch-rate-and-starter-calculator/

2) Yeast starters like to be at the same conditions as the wort they are being poured into. This means same temperature, gravity, etc. Yeast are more than happy to get to work immediately provided their growing conditions match their working conditions.

3) Yeast that are multiplying rapidly (under high krausen) are in better health than their flocculant counterparts. If a short lag time is desired, it is advantageous to pitch the entirety of the yeast starter at high krausen than to decant and pitch just the yeast. This is also the best way to "un-stick" a stuck fermentation.

 

[beergolf]

2) Yeast starters like to be at the same conditions as the wort they are being poured into. This means same temperature, gravity, etc. Yeast are more than happy to get to work immediately provided their growing conditions match their working conditions.

Not true. Yeast grow best at around 1.040. If you are making a big high gravity beer like 1.090 you do not want to make a 1.090 starter. You are better off making the appropriate sized 1.040 starter.

From the book "Yeast".

“You also do not want to make a high-gravity starter to grow yeast. The higher the gravity, the more pressure it puts on the yeast. Brewers should not believe the myth that yeast become acclimated to high-gravity fermentation from a high-gravity starter.”

Excerpt From: White & Jamil Zainasheff. “Yeast.” Brewers Publications, 2010. iBooks.
This material may be protected by copyright

Your other two points are right on the money.

 

[flars]

So I wanted to try a Wyeast smack pack, just to try one. I smacked it, let it start growing, and started brew day. I didn't read the instructions close enough, and went a little over board with my grains, and buy batch is going to be well above the 1.060 they recommend for the smack pack. I don't have enough time to make a starter and let it grow.
So here is my idea. Make some 1.040 wort with DME, and throw it on the stir plate, let it grow for two or three days, and the jar it in 3 pint ball jars, and chill it for later use. Kind of like turn the smack pack into 3 jars of pitch able batches.
1) I am assuming in theory this will work, no? I've never tried it, and never used my stir plate. But I think theoretically it should work.
2) how long should I leave it on the stir plate? It stays it has 100 billion cells, and I'm putting it in 1.5 l of 1.040 wort.

Thanks

Your smack pack of Wyeast does not have 100 billion cells. About the best you can do is 97% of 100 billion cells in the week after the pouch was filled.

Check out this pitch rate/starter calculator. Has a very realistic calculator for loss of cell viability for the age of the yeast. Will give you the cell growth for the planned 1.5 liter starter with the yeast you have.
http://www.brewunited.com/yeast_calculator.php

 

[Andyoesq]

I did use the calculators, which showed I needed 266 billion cells, well short of the 100 billion in the smack pack.
I'm comfortable pitching under a little, this is (in my opinion) way too much

 

[beergolf]

I did use the calculators, which showed I needed 266 billion cells, well short of the 100 billion in the smack pack.
I'm comfortable pitching under a little, this is (in my opinion) way too much

I am confused.. How is 266 billion less than 100 billion?

 

[Andyoesq]

100 billion (in the smack pack) is well short of the 266 billion needed.