My Yeast Starter

Yeast & Fermentation
1

Well, I consulted with Mr. Malty, and found out I need a 3L starter for my Red Hook Double Black Stout clone. So, here is the pic. I started with 3 L of R/O water, 3 cups of DME and 1 smack pack of 1056 (mostly swollen when I received it) and a vial of WPL001. This is after 1 day so far, with a few swirlys along the way. I’m planning on brewing Friday, so I was going to put it in the fridge Wed evening, to let the yeast flocculate, so I could pitch the cake. I do not have a stir plate yet. The cap is not on tight, It is loose.

Any suggestions?

Paul

2

If you’re going to be using RO water, you should really add some yeast nutrient in the future.

3

Oh, I forgot… I did add a servomyces capsule in the boil.

4

I think the question I would be asking is, is Friday too soon to brew if i put it in the fridge Wed evening? I made it Monday afternoon.

5

That should be fine. Use about half as much DME next time. 100 g/L (1/2 cup per quart) will give a gravity of ~1.035.

6

OK, thanks. Since I used so much DME, should I be wary of a blow-off?

7

Actually even if you had your gravity correct, looking at the photo, you are at risk of eruption. You do not have a great amount of head space with a whole lot of wort. Not always but quite often when I do the swirl I get quite a foam head on my starters. With that small a bottle (or conversly that much wort) I think it very possible you could get messy. I use a gallon pickle jar and never fill it over about halfish or so full when doing a starter just so I have swirling room. That doesen’t even cover the question at to could you just blow over - yea I think you could. You might not but you very much, looking a the physics of the thing, could blow.

8

I use John Palmer’s advice of 1/2 cup DME to 1 pint of water. So I usually make 1 quart starts and use a cup of DME or about 3.75-4 ounces. 1/2 cup to a quart doesn’t seem like enough.

9

I use John Palmer’s advice of 1/2 cup DME to 1 pint of water. So I usually make 1 quart starts and use a cup of DME or about 3.75-4 ounces. 1/2 cup to a quart doesn’t seem like enough.[/quote]

I think it’s more a case of John’s recommendation being over the top.

10

I use John Palmer’s advice of 1/2 cup DME to 1 pint of water. So I usually make 1 quart starts and use a cup of DME or about 3.75-4 ounces. 1/2 cup to a quart doesn’t seem like enough.[/quote]

I think it’s more a case of John’s recommendation being over the top.[/quote]
Yeah? Well, perhaps I’ll go less for my next starter. 3.75oz to a quart is good though, right? Or is that too much?

11

[quote=“Beersk”]
Yeah? Well, perhaps I’ll go less for my next starter. 3.75oz to a quart is good though, right? Or is that too much?[/quote]

I use .75 oz./cup of water. So, for a qt. I’d use 3 oz.

12

Starter wort calculator

http://brew.stderr.net/starter_wort_calc.html