Wyeast 1056 Starter

[HawkeyeMatt]

Hey all! I am Brewing a Pumpkin Ale tomorrow using Wyeast 1056. I am making a yeast starter. My pack came swelled up good. I tried smacking it not knowing if I got it with the pack already swelled. I pitched into my starter and noticed the nutrient pack was not broke. Will this be a problem in my starter? Thanks!

 

[FirstAidBrewing]

Nope, no problem there. That smack pack is basically a mini starter. Carry on.

 

[HawkeyeMatt]

Awesome! Thank you!

 

[kh54s10]

Nope, no problem there. That smack pack is basically a mini starter. Carry on.

This is not entirely accurate. The inner pack is nutrient. It's purpose is to proof the yeast (tell you that they are alive) and to energize the yeast to ferment the wort.

I will make very little difference in the cell count.

The couple of times that I didn't break the inner pack, I just fished it out of the pack and cut with sanitized scissors and added it to the starter. Those starters, went as well as any of the others.

 

[HawkeyeMatt]

Will my starter be OK without the nutrient pack?

 

[wallybangbang]

My last pack was already swelled up also. The dude at my LHBS said its fine, just to cut open the yeast nutrient pack/activator if I was unable to pop it before opening the bag. You should pour it in the starter if you still can, if not you will probably be alright. The starter wort should get it going.