When to use a yeast starter

[oltradplanter]

Yep the old traditional planter is back to try his hand at the second brew of his life. been reading alot and looking at youtube vids and more importantly looking at recipes. Wondering about yeast starter is it a smart move? no major difference or rather just pitch the yeast when brewed...Still hunting this malt extract rabbit.

 

[mkling]

I think it depends on what you are brewing and whether you are using liquid or dry yeast. A couple of general rules: 1) Usually you don't need starters for dry yeast. 2) The higher gravity your beer, the more likely you need a starter & the bigger it should be. 3) You're more likely to need a starter if you're brewing a lager than if you're brewing an ale.

Best source out there on this issue is the Pitching Rate Calculator at MrMalty.com. http://www.mrmalty.com/calc/calc.html

 

[oltradplanter]

dry yeast.

 

[Scimmia]

dry yeast.

Not worth screwing around with a starter, then. If you need more based on the calculator, you just pitch more dry yeast, it's cheap.