Well I gave a yeast starter a crack last night, sitting in my brewing cupboard as we speak, some people said don't bother and just pitch two packs of saf 23, but I thought I may as well hb a crack tp see how I go amdaybe I will do yeast starters for all my brews, seems to he the go. Only thing I did wrong was use 4lt of water instead of 2lt, wasn't thinking when I mixed it all up!! I'm assuming it should still work alright??
Anyhow ill keep u updated withy progress.....
First starter under way......
Re: First starter under way......
Good stuff Harmsy.
S23 is a lager strain you really need to keep it at the lower temps pref under 12c.
What was the brew ?
S23 is a lager strain you really need to keep it at the lower temps pref under 12c.
What was the brew ?
Im not an alchoholic i dont go to the meetings !
Re: First starter under way......
It's gonna be a knappstein larger.....I have a brew fridge now, once I put it all together I'm gonna sit it at about 10-11deg
Re: First starter under way......
Good luck, Harmsy.
Please tell us what's in your starter, and how you prepared it. Hope it itsn't just 4 litres of water on its own?
I'm a believer in pitching large and at fermetation temperature for my lagers. I usually build up a starter to about 4 to 4½ litres from a fresh smakpak, and also starters from test tubes or washed yeast from a yeast cake. In fact, I've just boiled a few litres of water which I will allow to cool so I can do a yeast wash before building another starter of WLP838.
Please tell us what's in your starter, and how you prepared it. Hope it itsn't just 4 litres of water on its own?
I'm a believer in pitching large and at fermetation temperature for my lagers. I usually build up a starter to about 4 to 4½ litres from a fresh smakpak, and also starters from test tubes or washed yeast from a yeast cake. In fact, I've just boiled a few litres of water which I will allow to cool so I can do a yeast wash before building another starter of WLP838.
Re: First starter under way......
harmsy this is in no way disrespectfull towards you
continue to use your preferred dried yeast but give much more time to the way you brew
do not change to many things in the brew day repeat one style of brew until you feel that it is the best batch you have done
only you yourself will understand this
then if you feel that there is something lacking in your brewing try the move to liquid cultures
there are people on this site that are hell bent on the affirmation of these products
dont get me wrong as i have and do use these products but no regularly, they dont produce a better beer
remember this there is beer and better beer
cheers speedie
continue to use your preferred dried yeast but give much more time to the way you brew
do not change to many things in the brew day repeat one style of brew until you feel that it is the best batch you have done
only you yourself will understand this
then if you feel that there is something lacking in your brewing try the move to liquid cultures
there are people on this site that are hell bent on the affirmation of these products
dont get me wrong as i have and do use these products but no regularly, they dont produce a better beer
remember this there is beer and better beer
cheers speedie
Re: First starter under way......
My mix was 200gm LDMA to 4lt of water (I meant to do 2nd as I said), it seems to be coming along slowly......
Speedy I do agree with you, I've been doing alot of research on this site and have used this starter as a stepping stone to the next level....then next down the track will be AG brewing (just haven't got the space at the moment)
Cheers for all the advice.
Speedy I do agree with you, I've been doing alot of research on this site and have used this starter as a stepping stone to the next level....then next down the track will be AG brewing (just haven't got the space at the moment)
Cheers for all the advice.
Re: First starter under way......
2lt not 2nd.....stupid iPhone auto correct
Re: First starter under way......
You'll be OK, as far as I'm concerned.
Let it grow and ferment out, pour off the starter beer, and pitch the yeast slurry.
Let it grow and ferment out, pour off the starter beer, and pitch the yeast slurry.
Re: First starter under way......
Yeah, the lower SG isn't going to hurt your starter at all. Don't worry about it.
When are you planning to pitch it?
When are you planning to pitch it?
Re: First starter under way......
Speedie is on ignore but it always scares me when people agree with him 
The lower gravity is easier on the yeast but will result in less yeast growth. A starter is a great practice to do before brewday, great work
For lagers I differ from Warra and pitch at room temp, after all I'm just growing yeast and not worried about the off flavours caused as I chill and decant the beer off the top before pitching just the yeast anyway. Also means lager starters take less time as well.
Liquid yeasts bring even more diversity to your brewing and means yet another tweak you can use to make beer the way you imagine it should taste. Also works out cheaper in the long run imo when you count splitting packs, etc etc but this isn't yet another debate about dry vs liquid
Take notes and experiment a little in the future pitching some at high krausen at the active stage and others decant etc etc. My routine changes depending on the beer I make but I find the lag time greatly reduced by pitching an active one though but don't always want an oxygenated beer into a beer it may show itself in.
The lower gravity is easier on the yeast but will result in less yeast growth. A starter is a great practice to do before brewday, great work
For lagers I differ from Warra and pitch at room temp, after all I'm just growing yeast and not worried about the off flavours caused as I chill and decant the beer off the top before pitching just the yeast anyway. Also means lager starters take less time as well.
Liquid yeasts bring even more diversity to your brewing and means yet another tweak you can use to make beer the way you imagine it should taste. Also works out cheaper in the long run imo when you count splitting packs, etc etc but this isn't yet another debate about dry vs liquid
Take notes and experiment a little in the future pitching some at high krausen at the active stage and others decant etc etc. My routine changes depending on the beer I make but I find the lag time greatly reduced by pitching an active one though but don't always want an oxygenated beer into a beer it may show itself in.
Re: First starter under way......
I'm planning on chilling it tomorrow in the fridge, draining the liquid and pitching Thursday, been waiting gor the brew shop to get me some nelson sauvin in...
Re: First starter under way......
Pulled the started out of the cupboard and looks to have a nice yeast cake on the bottom, wacked it into the fridge to cool it down, hoping to pitch it later in the week. Fingers crossed, I'll keep you posted......