I appreciate the encouragement to make a starter... had fermentation going at 3 hours and it was vigorous within 6. When you don't brew that often, the stakes get a little higher -- my previous batch, a Cal Common, was a big disappointment. I don't know where I slipped, since I had made the same recipe two months earlier with great success, but this time I was rigorous end-to-end about everything. Resolved: to make starters a week in advance (why not!) and to squeeze in even a small extract brew once a month so I don't feel sad over the occasional major flop.