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Author Topic: Yeast Starter Question  (Read 2903 times)

Offline BairsBrewing

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Yeast Starter Question
« on: November 19, 2016, 10:13:49 am »
According to Beersmith, I need a 1500ml starter. Is that the end volume after adding the DME and sick pack? It doesn't clearly show how much water to use, just the amount of DME for the starter size.

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Offline JJeffers09

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Re: Yeast Starter Question
« Reply #1 on: November 19, 2016, 10:16:04 am »
The volume of your starter is the amount of water. The amount of DME would be in oz

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Offline BairsBrewing

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Re: Yeast Starter Question
« Reply #2 on: November 19, 2016, 10:17:52 am »
The volume of your starter is the amount of water. The amount of DME would be in oz

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So a 1500ml starter is really more like 1725ml? 1500ml of water + 5oz DME + 125ml yeast pack.

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Offline JJeffers09

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Re: Yeast Starter Question
« Reply #3 on: November 19, 2016, 10:18:40 am »
Yes. What is your target pitchrate and OG? Ale/Lager

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Offline Stevie

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Yeast Starter Question
« Reply #4 on: November 19, 2016, 10:20:49 am »
1500ml starter = 150g DME and however much water it takes to get to 1500ml

Offline BairsBrewing

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Re: Yeast Starter Question
« Reply #5 on: November 19, 2016, 10:23:36 am »
Target OG is 1.078, not sure about pitch rate, BS says I need 280.1 billion cells

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Offline denny

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Re: Yeast Starter Question
« Reply #6 on: November 19, 2016, 10:24:36 am »
In the final analysis, it just doesn't matter that much.  It doesn't have to be that exact.  For my SNS starters, I use 1 qt. of water and 6 oz. of DME....good enough.
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Offline a10t2

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Re: Yeast Starter Question
« Reply #7 on: November 19, 2016, 10:30:28 am »
So a 1500ml starter is really more like 1725ml? 1500ml of water + 5oz DME + 125ml yeast pack.

You're probably over-thinking this a bit. For starters (pun very much intended), being off by ±20% on your pitching rate is totally normal and no big deal. But 1500 mL water with 5 oz DME dissolved in it will be more like 1550 mL of wort.

Target OG is 1.078, not sure about pitch rate, BS says I need 280.1 billion cells

Figuring 5 gal wort, that's 280 billion / (19 L * 19°P) = 0.78 M/mL-°P, so you're probably targeting the standard (ale) rate. A 1500 mL starter with a fresh pack should be just about right, final count-wise.
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Offline BairsBrewing

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Re: Yeast Starter Question
« Reply #8 on: November 19, 2016, 10:37:39 am »
Now I have to calculate the boil off rate of my starter for the 10 minute sanitizer boil!


Just kidding😆

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Offline BairsBrewing

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Re: Yeast Starter Question
« Reply #9 on: November 19, 2016, 10:47:16 am »
Thanks for the clarification guys, I should just relax and have a homebrew, but I'm out for now.

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Offline JJeffers09

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Re: Yeast Starter Question
« Reply #10 on: November 19, 2016, 01:35:43 pm »
Under tools section in Beersmith Yeast starter
Yeast Starter Settings: (at the bottom/and I am a shaken not stirred kind of guy - no stir plate)
Pitch Rates
Ale  0.95M/mL-P
Lager 1.55M/mL-P
Hybrid 1.10
96% Viability with a
20%/month aging rate

Assuming an Ale:
5Gal
1.078OG
337B cells estimated
1.052 Starter OG
3.61L Starter
17.65oz DME

It is your brew but that is I how I approach making a starter.  With unreliable, old, prone to stall yeasts, lagers, Belgians, hefes you may run into a less than desired performances out of your yeast.  But that's based on my opinion and personal taste.  It is always good to have a "relax, have a homebrew" approach.  Your beer should be fine either way, you will have a brew.
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Offline Hand of Dom

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Re: Yeast Starter Question
« Reply #11 on: November 20, 2016, 03:37:20 am »
I use 1500ml of water, and 150g of DME when I make starters, and only boil for about 5 minutes. I use the SNS method and this is accurate enough for me for most beers I'd make (when I make high gravity beers, I tend to make a smaller batch).  I've not made any lagers so far.
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