i am brewing jamils flanders red this weekend. i was gonna just use the roselaire for primary fermentation and then blend with a sacch fermented batch later. i cant find a clear answer on whether or not to make a starter and if so should i aerate it? i have read that aeration can inhibit pedio. any ideas?

Here is what I recall from the Pope talking about using this blend. Don't make a starter. The bugs are balanced to give the optimum flavor profile. Also, unlike yeast where you don't want any off flavors, the off flavors from the bugs is what you want in the beer (Sourness, Barnyard, etc.) For the Flanders just pich the pack and let it go. If you are doing 10g use two packs.

If I'm wrong someone please correct me.

i gotta re-listen to that one. i was trying while putting up freaking christmas lights 2 nights ago, but was getting supervised by the boss and couldnt concentrate. that sounds right and i guess that this ferments slow enough that having the yeast/bugs primed really doesnt matter. your pretty smart for a la boy. by the way, how about you and i go play defensive back for the saints? they f'in kill me!

Yep don't make a starter with the blend. It is balanced with certain % of the various bugs. I would advise pitching a fresh pack though if that is all you are using. I had very good results though by pitching some neutral yeast and letting that ferment for a couple days, then the blend

Where did you get the Roselare from, I thought it was only available in the Spring?

+1 on no starter for the blends as it tweaks the percentages.

We will be releasing the Roeselare again this spring and I am trying to talk the folks upstairs to put it on full time.

I was about to get together with Jamil and start a grass roots efforts to make it available all year. I really really wish you would. I always end up buying 3 or 4 packs in the spring.

sorry i ordered the wlp655 and not the wyeast. i know its not the same i just was tired when i posted the first time.