[jeffy]

Denny,
Would you consider this beer a high gravity beer that even needs a starter? The recipe lists the following gravity ranges;
SG- 1.064-1.068
FG- 1.012-1.018

it wouldn't hurt. if the yeast is liquid and anything short of super fresh (check the used by date on WYeast packages) you will do well to make a starter.

simplest form is ~100 grams Dry Malt Extract (DME) to 1000 ml water, boil to dissolve/sanitize, pour into a sanitized container with ~30% more capacity than the starter volume and chill to pitching temps then  add the yeast. Swirl the whole thing everytime you walk by for a couple/few days and then put in the fridge 2 days before pitching. Decant most of the liquid and pitch the slurry at the bottom. Mr Malty elaborates

[morticaixavier]

Denny,
Would you consider this beer a high gravity beer that even needs a starter? The recipe lists the following gravity ranges;
SG- 1.064-1.068
FG- 1.012-1.018

it wouldn't hurt. if the yeast is liquid and anything short of super fresh (check the used by date on WYeast packages) you will do well to make a starter.

simplest form is ~100 grams Dry Malt Extract (DME) to 1000 ml water, boil to dissolve/sanitize, pour into a sanitized container with ~30% more capacity than the starter volume and chill to pitching temps then  add the yeast. Swirl the whole thing everytime you walk by for a couple/few days and then put in the fridge 2 days before pitching. Decant most of the liquid and pitch the slurry at the bottom. Mr Malty elaborates

thanks Jeffy

[flbrewer]

The (starter yeast) process looks necessary but perhaps a little out of my comfort zone. I don't have any extra DME on hand (LHBS hopefully has small bags) and I don't have a digital scale. Any thoughts?

[HoosierBrew]

The (starter yeast) process looks necessary but perhaps a little out of my comfort zone. I don't have any extra DME on hand (LHBS hopefully has small bags) and I don't have a digital scale. Any thoughts?

Yeah, use 2 smack packs of Wyeast.  it'll be enough yeast for a beer of that OG.

[flbrewer]

Thanks to everyone! I just read this link below and it seems easy enough to follow.

http://www.howtobrew.com/section1/chapter6-5.html

[dkfick]

Yeah I would suggest getting into yeast starters... It's really needed to get your pitch count up high enough for most beers you brew.  Buying 2-4 packs of yeast gets expensive real quick.

[HoosierBrew]

Yeah I would suggest getting into yeast starters... It's really needed to get your pitch count up high enough for most beers you brew.  Buying 2-4 packs of yeast gets expensive real quick.

Agreed.  I recommended using 2 packs because he didn't seem comfortable with a starter. But long term, it's obviously cheaper.

[klickitat jim]

I know a guy who went all grain before buying a stir plate and flask. Oh, wait... I am a guy who went all grain before buying a stir plate and flask. I do that different if I had a time machine

[morticaixavier]

I know a guy who went all grain before buying a stir plate and flask. Oh, wait... I am a guy who went all grain before buying a stir plate and flask. I do that different if I had a time machine

Bah, I still don't have a stir plate and my flask just sits in the cupboard. Half gallon mason jars and regular swirling works for me. I'll save the stir plate money for ingredients

[Joe Sr.]

I'll save the stir plate money for ingredients

I built both my stir plates for maybe a $5 investment because I didn't have any power switches sitting around.  I had everything else, so it was simple.

Old hard drive for magnets, computer fan, cigar box, old Nokia power adapter.

[denny]

Denny,
Would you consider this beer a high gravity beer that even needs a starter? The recipe lists the following gravity ranges;
SG- 1.064-1.068
FG- 1.012-1.018

Yep.  My experience is that anything over 1.040 OG needs a starter.

[denny]

I know a guy who went all grain before buying a stir plate and flask. Oh, wait... I am a guy who went all grain before buying a stir plate and flask. I do that different if I had a time machine

Bah, I still don't have a stir plate and my flask just sits in the cupboard. Half gallon mason jars and regular swirling works for me. I'll save the stir plate money for ingredients

I'm with you.  The only reason I use a stir plate is because someone gave me one.

[HoosierBrew]

I know a guy who went all grain before buying a stir plate and flask. Oh, wait... I am a guy who went all grain before buying a stir plate and flask. I do that different if I had a time machine

Bah, I still don't have a stir plate and my flask just sits in the cupboard. Half gallon mason jars and regular swirling works for me. I'll save the stir plate money for ingredients

+1.  Same here.

[erockrph]

I know a guy who went all grain before buying a stir plate and flask. Oh, wait... I am a guy who went all grain before buying a stir plate and flask. I do that different if I had a time machine

Bah, I still don't have a stir plate and my flask just sits in the cupboard. Half gallon mason jars and regular swirling works for me. I'll save the stir plate money for ingredients

+1.  Same here.

+2 - I rarely make starters because I only brew 3 gallon batches, but when I do (i.e., lagers) I just use a 1-gallon jug.

[hopfenundmalz]

I know a guy who went all grain before buying a stir plate and flask. Oh, wait... I am a guy who went all grain before buying a stir plate and flask. I do that different if I had a time machine

Bah, I still don't have a stir plate and my flask just sits in the cupboard. Half gallon mason jars and regular swirling works for me. I'll save the stir plate money for ingredients

I'm with you.  The only reason I use a stir plate is because someone gave me one.

Someone gave me one when he moved, I bought a stir starter, and I won another stir starter in a raffle. I'm set for a while.