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Author Topic: WLP 002 Starter Looks Funny  (Read 4557 times)

Offline In The Sand

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WLP 002 Starter Looks Funny
« on: December 17, 2013, 07:54:09 pm »
Made a 2 L starter with two vials of WLP 002 last night.  Directions say to take it out of the fridge 3-6 hrs prior to pitching.  I took it out about 1 hr before pitching.  It has been on a stir plate since then.  Today it looks very chunky.  Looks like the yeast is congealed(?).  Anybody ever had this happen?  Did I shock the yeast, or does it just need time to break up?  The wort was about 75F when I pitched and the yeast was probably around 65F.  Here's a pic:

Trey W.

Offline Upstate Dan

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Re: WLP 002 Starter Looks Funny
« Reply #1 on: December 17, 2013, 07:59:44 pm »
You're good. That strain just looks like cottage cheese.

Offline Stevie

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Re: WLP 002 Starter Looks Funny
« Reply #2 on: December 17, 2013, 09:16:58 pm »
Yep, you're good. Nothing to see here.

Offline redbeerman

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Re: WLP 002 Starter Looks Funny
« Reply #3 on: December 18, 2013, 10:30:40 am »
+1 You're lucky any of it is in suspension.
CH3CH2OH - Without it, life itself would be impossible.

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Jim

Offline In The Sand

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Re: WLP 002 Starter Looks Funny
« Reply #4 on: December 18, 2013, 10:42:22 am »
That's great to hear. I have the stir plate wide open which is why it is in suspension.
Trey W.

Offline Stevie

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Re: WLP 002 Starter Looks Funny
« Reply #5 on: December 18, 2013, 01:11:16 pm »
Egg drop soup should be added to the description or on the packaging to prevent people from freaking out. Looks about the same in the fermenter.

Offline Slowbrew

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Re: WLP 002 Starter Looks Funny
« Reply #6 on: December 18, 2013, 01:55:00 pm »
Like the rest have said, that looks perfectly normal to me.

Paul
Where the heck are we going?  And what's with this hand basket?

Offline tschmidlin

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Re: WLP 002 Starter Looks Funny
« Reply #7 on: December 18, 2013, 05:23:38 pm »
Ummm . . . I'm a little confused/concerned with your procedure.
Made a 2 L starter with two vials of WLP 002 last night.  Directions say to take it out of the fridge 3-6 hrs prior to pitching.  I took it out about 1 hr before pitching.  It has been on a stir plate since then.
You made a starter with 2 vials of WLP002 and put it in the fridge, then pulled it out today and put it on a stir plate?  And it stayed on there for one hour before you put it in your wort?

That's the way I'm reading this. :-\
Tom Schmidlin

Offline In The Sand

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Re: WLP 002 Starter Looks Funny
« Reply #8 on: December 18, 2013, 06:43:12 pm »

Ummm . . . I'm a little confused/concerned with your procedure.
Made a 2 L starter with two vials of WLP 002 last night.  Directions say to take it out of the fridge 3-6 hrs prior to pitching.  I took it out about 1 hr before pitching.  It has been on a stir plate since then.
You made a starter with 2 vials of WLP002 and put it in the fridge, then pulled it out today and put it on a stir plate?  And it stayed on there for one hour before you put it in your wort?

That's the way I'm reading this. :-\

LOL No. When I got the yeast I put it in the fridge. Prior to making the starter, I took the yeast out of the fridge and it sat on the counter for an hour before I finished the starter wort and got it chilled. Then I pitched the yeast into the starter wort. Then I put it on the stir plate. Then you have the pic I posted. Got it? :)
Trey W.

Offline duboman

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Re: WLP 002 Starter Looks Funny
« Reply #9 on: December 18, 2013, 06:43:25 pm »

Ummm . . . I'm a little confused/concerned with your procedure.
Made a 2 L starter with two vials of WLP 002 last night.  Directions say to take it out of the fridge 3-6 hrs prior to pitching.  I took it out about 1 hr before pitching.  It has been on a stir plate since then.
You made a starter with 2 vials of WLP002 and put it in the fridge, then pulled it out today and put it on a stir plate?  And it stayed on there for one hour before you put it in your wort?

That's the way I'm reading this. :-\

I was just thinking the same thing, looks like a normal, pre-crashed starter to me
Peace....Love......Beer......

The Commune Brewing Company-Perfecting the craft of beer since 2010

Offline Stevie

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Re: WLP 002 Starter Looks Funny
« Reply #10 on: December 18, 2013, 06:44:33 pm »
I think he is talking about taking the vials out of the fridge.

Offline In The Sand

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Re: WLP 002 Starter Looks Funny
« Reply #11 on: December 18, 2013, 07:47:11 pm »

I think he is talking about taking the vials out of the fridge.

Yes
Trey W.

Offline tschmidlin

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Re: WLP 002 Starter Looks Funny
« Reply #12 on: December 18, 2013, 09:22:25 pm »

Ummm . . . I'm a little confused/concerned with your procedure.
Made a 2 L starter with two vials of WLP 002 last night.  Directions say to take it out of the fridge 3-6 hrs prior to pitching.  I took it out about 1 hr before pitching.  It has been on a stir plate since then.
You made a starter with 2 vials of WLP002 and put it in the fridge, then pulled it out today and put it on a stir plate?  And it stayed on there for one hour before you put it in your wort?

That's the way I'm reading this. :-\

LOL No. When I got the yeast I put it in the fridge. Prior to making the starter, I took the yeast out of the fridge and it sat on the counter for an hour before I finished the starter wort and got it chilled. Then I pitched the yeast into the starter wort. Then I put it on the stir plate. Then you have the pic I posted. Got it? :)
Ah, ok. ;)

WLP002 floccs like crazy, I've even tried breaking them up with a vortexer when I was freezing samples, it didn't work very well.
Tom Schmidlin

Offline In The Sand

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Re: WLP 002 Starter Looks Funny
« Reply #13 on: December 20, 2013, 09:51:31 am »
I am not crashing this starter before I pitch, but when I do pitch should I decant most of the wort and just pitch the floc'd yeast?
Trey W.

Offline duboman

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Re: WLP 002 Starter Looks Funny
« Reply #14 on: December 20, 2013, 09:54:48 am »

I am not crashing this starter before I pitch, but when I do pitch should I decant most of the wort and just pitch the floc'd yeast?
in order to decant you would have to cold crash it for a day or two to force the yeast to floc out completely, otherwise you risk decanting a lot of yeast in suspension. If you can't crash it then pitch the whole thing but that wouldn't be my recommendation;)
Peace....Love......Beer......

The Commune Brewing Company-Perfecting the craft of beer since 2010