Going to try my first liquid yeast.....a bit nervous

[tominboston]

Out of curiousity mainly, I am going to try my hand at making a starter using liquid yeast. I am brewing the Irish red ale next weekend hopefully.
I ordered the omega ale yeast II ( as it was one of the choices with the extract kit). I also ordered the 1 liter starter kit that comes with some fast pitch canned wort. I figured it may help as I need to make the starter the day before brew day I think.
The OG on this beer is not too high so I am hoping my 1 liter starter will be enough. I will look into the pitch calculator to see if I can figure it out. I can read about this stuff for days, but it doesn’t sink in for me until the rubber meets the road and I have to actually do it.

As always I am open to any suggestions, words of wisdom etc.

This hobby has really become consuming. I think ups is going to request I build a receiving dock at my house.

Tom

[sneezles61]

Well then, if you’ve read alot about this, then not much more needs to be explained. Now you need to practice what you’ve read/learned. You really can’t go wrong, unless your sanitizing is very lack… The day before works, and maybe it will be at high krausen when you pitch it in your brew! I have been using the “shake the living bejesus into it” and I am very happy with my results. I do have a spray bottle with star san mixture in it, so when I need to tinker with some yeasties, I can spray my hands, and other things that will be used, for more added protection. Just dare yourself and see how it goes! Sneezles61

[flars]

Here is some more reading.

Homebrew Dad's Online Yeast Starter Calculator

Yeast Pitch Rate and Starter Calculator - Brewer's Friend

You can also use a gallon pickle jar for a Shaken Not Stirred starter.

You can also make the starter a week before brew day and hold in the frig if you don’t want to try pitching at high krausen of the starter.

It will also be worth while to have a 2 liter flask for small starters. This will help prevent over flows of the starter krausen.

I’ve used this for 1.5 liter starters on a stir plate when the yeast has a reputation for being very active with a huge krausen…

[tominboston]

Thank you for the info. I never thought about headspace for the starter, I better find a larger container.

Before pitching the dry yeast I have always just followed the instructions to rock the brew back and forth in the fermentor for a few minutes to get some oxygen in it. Do I need to do anything different ? I see they of course have all kids of gadgets and systems for this but I am hoping to avoid having to buy anything else, and I always cringe a bit when having anything touching the beer.

Thank you for the help, it’s exciting stuff. The beer goes fast I noticed, I may need to look into doing 6 gallon batches.

[flars]

I aerate the wort in my carboys by shaking the carboy back and forth for about 30 seconds then swirl to get the head of foam into the wort. Then repeat a few times. I’m done when I tilt the carboy and solid foam comes up from the bottom.

The carboy is between my feet on a piece of soft pine while I’m sitting on a stool. Not on the concrete floor.

[tominboston]

Thanks! And great links you provided above, thank you!

When you pitch into the carboy do you just pour though a funnel? I use The plastic big mouth bubbler for primary, then I have a glass 5 gal carboy for a secondary.

[flars]

I use a funnel to pour the yeast into the carboy. The smallest carboy I use for a 5 gallon brew is 6.5 gallons. I have a larger carboy for when I use WY 3068.

[uberculture]

I used to shake, then went to an oxygen tank through an aeration stone. Lately, I pour from the kettle, through a strainer, into a bucket. Then from the bucket into primary (bmb). I haven’t really noticed a difference.

[loopie_beer]

Personally I think oxygenation is one of those things… ideally you want 10-12ppm. But I got similar results when just using shaking or an aquarium pump… this coming from a person who uses pure O2. I just find it quicker really.