Help! No DME for starter
Posted: Sat Nov 02, 2013 5:36 pm
by humpadilo
So I got my porter kit and I am planning on brewing on Monday. I just realized I am out of DME for a starter. My LHBS is not open tomorrow. I do have a lot of priming sugar though. My target OG is 1.063 with white labs 028 Edinburgh yeast. Can I use the priming sugar for a starter or regular sugar? Any ideas?
Re: Help! No DME for starter
Posted: Sat Nov 02, 2013 5:51 pm
by grod
Mate I wouldn't bother with a starter if you don't have the DME and don't think your OG is too big to be a problem. Dont use that sugar as the yeast needs stuff that the sugar cant give it.
love
g
Re: Help! No DME for starter
Posted: Sat Nov 02, 2013 6:46 pm
by BDawg
+1
Are you a member of a local club? Is there anyone else around that can give you some DME?
Do you have any base malt? Mash a micro-sized batch and use that.
If not, you are better off just pitching the plain vial into the batch rather than making a starter with just sugar.
Re: Help! No DME for starter
Posted: Sat Nov 02, 2013 7:56 pm
by humpadilo
No I haven't joined yet. I am planning on joining the local homebrew club later this month when they meet. I guess I'd be better just not doing starter. I figured priming sugar wouldn't cut it.
Re: Help! No DME for starter
Posted: Sat Nov 02, 2013 8:35 pm
by grod
BDawg wrote:+1
Are you a member of a local club? Is there anyone else around that can give you some DME?
Do you have any base malt? Mash a micro-sized batch and use that.
If not, you are better off just pitching the plain vial into the batch rather than making a starter with just sugar.
good advice
love
g
Re: Help! No DME for starter
Posted: Sat Nov 02, 2013 8:39 pm
by grod
HD,
if you have fermentation temp control, maybe you could start it at a degree F or 2 higher for the first day then slowly chill to ferment temps for the rest.
I think this may be a little overkill but if you can you may as well.
love
g
Re: Help! No DME for starter
Posted: Sun Nov 03, 2013 1:26 am
by Ozwald
That particular strain absolutely hates being cold and/or underpitched. It will mutate like hell on you. Fermenting warm isn't a bad idea (70-71), but I don't think it's going to cut it. I'd do either one of two things. Buy another vial or put off the brew day. The flavor profile of that yeast combined with a high FG isn't going to be very pleasant.
Re: Help! No DME for starter
Posted: Sun Nov 03, 2013 4:13 am
by dmtaylor
Your kit has some malt or specialty malts in it, right? So why not steep about a pound of that in 3 quarts of water at 150 F for 40 minutes? There's your starter wort! You could even add a couple ounces of the malt extract that the kit came with for good measure. You're never short supplies if you've got a kit in your hands!