Beer Forum

Is it equally effective to pitch twice as much yeast as it is to make a starter?

It really depends on how good a starter you make. When I make a starter, it's at least a 2 liter volume on a stirplate. This produces much more yeast than what is contained in two smackpacks or vials.

On the other hand, many folks make a starter with only about 2 cups of starter wort without a stirplate and aerate it by just giving it a good shake. This volume will produce very little yeast growth and won't do much more than wake up the yeast. In this case, you would probably be better off pitching two smack packs or vials.

If you are talking about dry yeast, you don't need to worry about making starters at all. Actually, making a starter with dry yeast will be worse than no starter or rehydration. There is also enough yeast in a dry packet, that it will seldom be necessary to pitch two packages.

Basically, to decide if two packages without a starter are more effective than one package in a starter, you need to look at your starter making process.

You should probably check out www.mrmalty.com for better info on yeast and starters.

Wayne
Bugeater Brewing Company

Thanks Wayne...

According to the texts I have read, most homebrewers underpitch dramatically. Follow Bugeater's advice. I also use the stirplate, and make 2 liters of starter. I will also repitch a clean slurry from my fermenters. I make my starters at temperature, that is, the temperature at which the beer will be fermenting. Oxynate. Make the starter a week in advance. Tomorrow's beer will be an Oatmeal Stout, using 3 lbs of toasted oats for 10 gallons. I am toasting the oats right now. I'll repitch 1056 from an earlier batch. Good luck!