Wyeast Propogator?

[kieron100]

I'm planning on making a porter using specialty grains, however I have made a dreadful mistake and bought a Wyeast propogator. I don't want to make a starter. I have activated the smack pack and plan on leaving it over night. Could I just add this straight to the batch? Or will it simply not work on its own?

the OG will be 1.054

Thanks!

 

[boo boo]

Make the starter now. Any starter would help you in this case, in fact I would either consider putting off your brew until you have enough yeast built up or you could put that yeast aside and pitch dry yeast instead. You don't want to try starting a brew without adaquate yeast.

 

[kieron100]

Thank's boo boo, my problem is I don't have the necessary stuff to make a starter and I have to order more yeast online Really didn't want to put it off because tomorrow is the only day I can really do it for ages.

 

[boo boo]

Put sub par ingredients in a beer and get sub par beer. If you want to make the best beer you can, then wait until you can get enough yeast made to finish the job.

 

[boo boo]

I can't say that I know anyone near peterborough that could help you out.
Consider joining us at the MoB Members of Barleyment - MoB FAQ to get access to brewers in your area that would certainly help you out in such a similar situation.

 

[carbon111]

Thank's boo boo, my problem is I don't have the necessary stuff to make a starter and I have to order more yeast online Really didn't want to put it off because tomorrow is the only day I can really do it for ages.

That's just not enough yeast. You'll either have to make a starter or buy more, simple as that.

 

[Yooper]

Are you making an extract batch? If so, why not take 1 cup of DME or 1 1/3 cup of LME, and add it to four cups of boiling water. Cool it, pour into a sanitized growler, add the yeast, cover with sanitized foil, and you have a starter. Let it ferment out, and then pour the whole thing into your wort when it's cool.

Right from Wyeast's website:
Usage

The Propagator™ package contains a minimum of 25 billion cells in a yeast slurry. This volume is not adequate for direct pitching into 5 gallons of wort and requires a 1-2 L propagation step prior to brewing. The Propagator™ is designed, when propagated in a 1-2 liter “starter” culture, to inoculate 5 gallons of standard strength ale wort (1.034-1.060 SG) with professional pitching rates.

So, you don't even have enough yeast for a 1.034 wort. If your beer is bigger than that, you're even more seriously underpitching.

 

[midfielder5]

another alternative:
You could brew the beer when you need to, but wait until you have enough yeast to pitch. Take some of the wort and make a real wort starter. search around here for no chill and RWS.

 

[Arkador]

another alternative:
You could brew the beer when you need to, but wait until you have enough yeast to pitch. Take some of the wort and make a real wort starter. search around here for no chill and RWS.

I was gonna say, brew your beer, pull off 1 liter into a growler, and pitch your propigator into it. wait 24 hours (swirl it arround regurlarly) then pitch it into the rest of your brew

 

[craigd]

OK, I'll be the one to go off-script. Personally, I'd pitch the yeast from the smack pack. It will not be ideal but it will make beer. Next time make a starter - many would argue you should do that even with an Activator. The beer will start slowly and I'd keep the temp low to minimize off-flavors which will make it slower still. I guess it just depends on how critical you are about your beers - I can live with minor flaws and learn from them. Others are far more critical than I...

 

[ManyBrews]

I have a similar problem as OP; i have a propogator pack and a midwest ingredient kit; i'm new (2nd batch) so don't have any extra dme yet. my ingredient kit includes 2 - 3.3 bottles of lme, 1 light and 1 wheat for a saisson; can i just take some the lme (1 1/4 cup) for starter wort from kit?

my 18 lb. order of dme should be showing up soon, but i'd like to brew sunday.

 

[Yooper]

I have a similar problem as OP; i have a propogator pack and a midwest ingredient kit; i'm new (2nd batch) so don't have any extra dme yet. my ingredient kit includes 2 - 3.3 bottles of lme, 1 light and 1 wheat for a saisson; can i just take some the lme (1 1/4 cup) for starter wort from kit?

my 18 lb. order of dme should be showing up soon, but i'd like to brew sunday.

Sure you can take some out of the kit. You're talking about very little, so you won't harm the beer at all.