Yeast Starters: Liters vs. Quarts

[Killshakes]

We mostly talk about the beer we brew in terms of gallons and its various fractions (quarts, pints, etc.), and yet yeast starters are almost always talked about in terms of liters.

Anyone know why that is? I assume its a matter of convention, but if that's true, what started the convention? I tend to think of a liter as approximately a quart, and so for me a "1 liter" starter is just a quart starter.

 

[dryboroughbrewing]

At a guess? Many folks use lab glassware, which is pretty universally metric.

 

[unviewtiful]

Erlenmeyer Flasks typically come in metric sizes, and that is the most common vessel for making a starter on a stir plate. The other reason I use metric for starters is to get a more accurate measurement of water and DME. Since 1mL=1g of water, I weigh the water I use for the starter to get more consistent results regardless of starting water temperature.

 

[kh54s10]

The above. Also it is a lot easier to do calculations in metric, so all the calculators are programmed to use metric.

 

[Kharnynb]

the only reason I use imperial is because i post on this board, I translate all recipies into metric for easier use over here.

 

[TheHopfather]

I'm Canadian, all this chat on Home Brew Talk in Imperial measurements is just plain crazy talk. You folks in the US need to get on the metric bandwagon one day soon.

To answer the question, doing calculations in metric is just plain easier then doing them in Imperial. Metric is the world standard and I'd imagine that is how labs are doing their calculations, hence the flasks come in metric sizes.

 

[Oginme]

US Brewer here. Though conversant in both Imperial and Metric, I brew almost entirely using metric units. As TheHopfather pointed out, it is a heck of a lot easier on the brain than doing multiple conversions.

The reason yeast starters are typically by the liter is as stated above, most lab equipment (flasks, beakers, carboys, graduates) are all marked in milliliters or liters. It is a lot easier than measuring for a quart of starter ( 1 quart is roughly 946 ml...so I aim between the 900 ml mark and the 1000 ml mark.?.).

 

[redllama]

100 grams per 1 liter gets you 1.040 starter wort so it scales nicely

 

[brewcat]

You folks in the US need to get on the metric bandwagon one day soon.

Not happening.

 

[kh54s10]

You folks in the US need to get on the metric bandwagon one day soon.

Not happening.

Agreed ^^

Just because we don't use metric doesn't mean we don't know how!

Besides Fahrenheit is much more accurate than Celsius, unless you use decimal places.

 

[trav77]

https://www.ncsu.edu/labwrite/Experimental Design/accuracyprecision.htm

Hey - everyone's doing it. You do want to be cool don't you?

 

[beermanpete]

Agreed ^^

Just because we don't use metric doesn't mean we don't know how!

Besides Fahrenheit is much more accurate than Celsius, unless you use decimal places.

Not more accurate: higher resolution.

Anyhow, it is all Jimmy Carter's fault.

 

[TorMag]

I don't know how math is any harder, 1 cup + 1 cup = 2 cups. 1 gallon + 1 gallon = 2 gallons. 5 gallons - 1 pint = ? wait a sec....... less beer in the keg.