Starting with Starters

[Msk]

So I am a new brewer who has found his way here to seek the wisdom of all you master brewers.

I am still working my way through the archives of the shows but one thing has become clear to me in the 6 batches I have brewed so far. I have been dramatically underpitching yeast.

I finally went to Jamil's site and calculated the yeast I should have pitched and found that in some cases I was only pitching 1/3 the yeast I should have in past beers.

So I need to invest in a setup for starters. What should I get? What is the minimum? WHat is nice to have? Is it possible to use a nalgene bottle with a sitir plate? (trying to stay away from glass). Budget really isn't an issue, but everything will need to be bought because I am not handy at all.

I am pretty much wedded to getting a stir plate, I am just trying to decide what other stuff I need to go with it.

Thanks in advance

Msk

[Kaiser]

Get an erlenmeyer flasks. I have a 500ml and a 2000ml one. Depending on the amount of yeast you need, one 1000ml should be fine as well. The great thing about these is, that you can boil, chill and ferment the starter wort in there. This frees you from transferring to another vessel which is less mess and less chance of getting the wort infected.

Kai

[Msk]

Thanks Kaiser, that certainly makes the risk of glass worth it. Whats the typical process on cooling the flask? Id be scared to death of going from the stove to plunging it into an ice water bath. Any reason I shouldn't just go with the 2000ML off the bat if I can swing it?


Msk

[Kaiser]

Thanks Kaiser, that certainly makes the risk of glass worth it. Whats the typical process on cooling the flask?

I put them into a cold water bath (sink) and wait about 30min. Then I put them into the fride if I want it even colder. The only reason why I don't put them into an ice bath is that it would be an extra step for me to get the ice from the freezer. Laboratory grade glassware is designed to withstand these temperature shocks.

Any reason I shouldn't just go with the 2000ML off the bat if I can swing it?

If I propagate from smaller amounts of yeast, I'd like to step it up at least once. For me that means going from a 500ml to a 2000ml flask. If you only want to propagate from a vial or smack pack you should be fine with the 2000ml flask. Just make sure that you don't overdo it. With a stirplate and such a large starter you may be able to overpitch. This might be a concern especially for ales, where you want some of the ester characteristics that come from yeast growth in the beer.

Kai

[DannyW]

My new favorite method of cooling starters is Justin's lazy way - cook up the wort before you go to bed and just leave it on the counter to cool overnight. Leave the foil on it, don't screw with it, and pitch your yeast in the morning.

OMG! I got brewing advice from BrewcasterJ! What will become of my soul?

[Msk]

Kaiser - Thanks again. I'll do the work to make sure I'm pitching the right amount of yeast. I'd just rather have one flask and the ability to do a larger starter if needed.

Dannyw-Good to know thats an option too if I need it.

Thanks guys

Msk