how long will starter last?

[bazookazilla]

I put my starter in the fridge Monday. I was able to brew yesterday after work. I just pulled the starter out and decanted it as I was heating strike water. I finally got aerate and pitch about 1:00 this morning. When I left for work around 9:30 the airlock looked like it had shifted a little bit, but nothing too exciting. Hopefully when I get home it will be going strong. Thanks for the tips!! I will follow up in a couple of days.

[mike____]

And kitties are to be petted, not skinned.
Even when they try to eat you.

Does Ninkasi just tolerate (as in not eat ) the other cat?
I know you're constantly running for your life, but that's a whole other issue!

[bazookazilla]

When I got home last night it was bubbling away. I checked again last night and it was still going strong. The Krausen is about 2.5"'high.

[Ozwald]

Does Ninkasi just tolerate (as in not eat ) the other cat?
I know you're constantly running for your life, but that's a whole other issue!

He *loves* her. He tries to cuddle with her all the time. If he's out in the kennel for more than a few hours, he searches for her the minute he comes in. She's kind of an old bitch so she would rather be left alone most of the time, but she tolerates him.

I put my starter in the fridge Monday. I was able to brew yesterday after work. I just pulled the starter out and decanted it as I was heating strike water. I finally got aerate and pitch about 1:00 this morning. When I left for work around 9:30 the airlock looked like it had shifted a little bit, but nothing too exciting. Hopefully when I get home it will be going strong. Thanks for the tips!! I will follow up in a couple of days.

Did you give it any wort before pitching, or just pitch as-is?

[bazookazilla]

Did you give it any wort before pitching, or just pitch as-is?

I let it come up to 60F and, gave it a good swirl and pitched as is.

[brewinhard]

I would much rather pitch late in the high krausen window than have wort sitting at 60-70F for a few hours.

I think if your sanitation is good, that leaving a carboy at 60-70F for a few hours would not be a huge deal if pitching at a later time. And the good thing about this 2nd method is if fresh wort from your batch is used to "wake" up your previously made starter to high krausen that it only really takes a few hours at best to hit this point. So, by the time you are cleaned up from your brew day you would probably be pitching that starter at peak 2 hrs at most after cleanup.

In fact, the last lager I made took me a good 5-6 hrs to get it cooled down to 48F before I could pitch my starter. No issues with fermentation, and the final product was great. I think a lot of brewers employ this method that live in warmer areas and can't get their wort chilled down to proper temps from warmer ground water with no issues.

Granted a good health, vital pitch, sanitary procedures, and proper aeration are crucial for best results.
BTW, Ninkasi looks healthy as ever!