WLP 007 starter question.

[chinaski1217]

I made two starters at once yesterday: 3L of 001 and 1.5 of 007, so 4L total of starter wort. The 1.5L starter with 007 and it never built up a krausen . None at all (it's been 22 hours ago now).

The "best by" date on the 007 was October 20, 2012, so I think it was 6 weeks old or so. I make my starters in growlers and shake them up every time I walk past them for the first 12 hours or so. The 007 gasses off still when I shake it (quite a bit, actually), but no krausen.

Anyone ever experience this? Any idea why this might happen? Is it still OK?

 

[brew2enjoy]

Give it a good swirl, do you see white chunks that look like egg drop soup? If so you are good. WLP007 is strange

 

[chinaski1217]

Give it a good swirl, do you see white chunks that look like egg drop soup? If so you are good. WLP007 is strange

I do see that when I swirl. Looks very similar to 002. Still seems strange that I got no krausen.

 

[DocScott]

It is normal not to get a krausen on a starter, especially on a stir plate or shaking it. Not sure if this is scientifically correct, but I think of it like this...The krausen is basically a clumping of wort proteins, yeast, and other 'stuff' that forms over the beer due to its hydrophilic properties as well as the CO2 produced by the fermenting yeast Since you are agitating your starter vessel, it basically breaks up the proteins and stops their clumping. As long as your yeast is multiplying and you see some signs of activity (bubbles, yeast slurry, etc) you're in good shape.

 

[DocScott]

^ hydrophobic. (not hydrophilic)

 

[greatschmaltez]

If you are a bit nervous if fermentation took place, just chill down your starter after about 2 days of fermentation. Let the yeast settle out, then decant some of the top liquid and take a gravity sample with that liquid. This will confirm fermentation actually took place. I've had starters blow off and starters that have no Krausen... A mixed bag on visual signs, but they all fermented.

 

[chinaski1217]

I feel better now about the 007. It's just about settled out. I do, however, have a massive krausen on the 3L starter of WLP001. I find this odd in that, when I make a starter of wyeast 1056 (supposedly the same strain) I normally don't get a krausen at all.

Anyone else experience this? Seems like 001 ferments more slowly than 1056 too.