yeast/starter question

[KRS1]

i'm kinda confused as to which yeast products need starters....I ordered two ingredient kits from MW (hank's hefe and cologne kolsch) with wyeast "smack packs"...do i need starters for "smack packs"?? thanks

 

[ajf]

I you are using a liquid yeast, you would benefit from a starter.
See http://www.mrmalty.com/pitching.php

-a,

 

[KRS1]

ok, now another stupid newbie question.....can somebody give me a "starters for dummies" lesson?? thanks a bunch

 

[FlyGuy]

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/wiki/index.php/Yeast_Starters

 

[TheJadedDog]

Best instructions for making a starter at www.howtobrew.com. The wyeast smack packs and white labs vials benefit from starters. Dry yeast packets do not need starters.

 

[Brewbeard]

I've only used liquid yeast once, though I plan to use it more in the future.

Since I only bought it a day before brewing, I simply pitched the White Labs London Ale vial into the fermenter. The fermentation started, but it took about 3 days. I had already rehydrated some dry yeast to pitch when I noticed the airlock was bubbling.

From that experience alone, I'll create a starter for my vials from now on. Even if they say they are pitchable, I would recommend a starter because they take a while to start. I've read that it is best to get fermentation to start as soon as possible to decrease the chance of the wort getting infected.

 

[Kai]

If the yeast is fairly fresh (check the production date) and fairly viable (how well did it swell?), then I say you're alright pitching a swollen Activator into most lower-gravity (OG < 1.060) beers.

I tend to brew on a whim whenever I have a free carboy, so I don't take the extra days to make a starter.