Yeast Starter? Educate Me!

[kontreren]

Is it just me?
Welcome to Homebrew Adventures
This link explains how to create a yeast starter. Sanitize aside is all this really necessary? I normally smack the pack and after it swells pour it into the wort and let the yeast do their job.

 

[double_e5]

Those direction will work. That and this site Mr Malty Pitching Rate Calculator will give you the proper size for your starter to pitch the correct amount of yeast for the gravity of your wort.

 

[jacketsfans]

Yeah, it's pretty much that easy. There are some disagreements among many here regarding the amount of starter relative to the gravity of your wort, but the site to which your link takes us describes making a starter pretty well. Additionally, you don't necessarily need to use the wort made with the starter and choose instead to decant a large majority of the liquid and pitch only the yeast, which is what I've found myself doing.

 

[WorryWort]

I pitch only the yeast. But generally I get better result when I use a starter (i always do it now) than without. Proper pitch rates are important to me.

However, you can make very good, drinkable beer that ferments fully without a starter.

For my first batch I didn't know and I pitched a propogator pack into the wort, and it turned out ok, at least as far as fermentation goes.