[erockrph]

I feel like the only one without a stir plate...maybe that'll be the next upgrade.

nah, I don't have one either. I don't have flasks either. I use 1 qt mason jars or .5 gallon ones if I need a big starter

For lagers it's usually a 1 gallon jug for me. Otherwise it's one of my fermenters with about 2.5-3 gallons of "starter". Those are much tastier without a stir bar

[klickitat jim]

I think a lot of good beer has been made without a stir plate. That being said, I value mine pretty high. I think it's number three behind sanitation and fermentor temp control

[guido]

If I were handy, I could make a stir plate.  I bought one at www.stirstarters.com.  It was only $45, including shipping.  Lifetime guarantee.  I had a starter overflow and yeast got into the unit.  It was fixed, no charge, even though it was clearly my fault.  Can't say enough about the customer service.

[bunderbunder]

I think a lot of good beer has been made without a stir plate.

Commercial beer, for example.

[hopfenundmalz]

I think a lot of good beer has been made without a stir plate.

Commercial beer, for example.

Do you mean the ones that use the 500 gram bricks? Or that buy pitchable quantities for big $$$. Some just harvest and repitch after they get a yeast going. Some go a long time with a culture, hundreds of pitches.

Many of the larger ones have yeast propagators, which aerate and mix the yeast. Can't do those on a stir plate.