[russell]

I understand how to make a yeast starter but for a 2 stage (which I never have needed to do) for the second stage It appears that I don't need to add any yeast, just make the next little beer (water and DME) and put it in with the original yeast for the 1st starter to make the necessary amount. Does this sound right?
   So I can get by with only one smack pack of yeast to make maybe over 400 billion cells of yeast?

[denny]

Correct.  Decant the spent wort from the first round before adding more.

[a10t2]

Although if I needed 400 billion cells starting from a pack, I'd just make a 2.5 L starter.

[russell]

nice idea about 2.5 L wort. I think I have a gallon jug or something to do that in.
  Would I only use one smack pack for the 2.5 gallon of starter?

[russell]

would there be any problem with using a Growler? The neck is kind of small.

[klickitat jim]

Another way is to pitch yeast that are active into well oxygenated wort. If they are in exponential phase the difference between 200 and 400 billion cells is about 90 minutes.

[stpug]

Correct.  Decant the spent wort from the first round before adding more.

I've never found the first-stage-starter decanting to be necessary unless I need the extra volume/head space.  Is there a good reason why it would be from your perspective?

[denny]

Although if I needed 400 billion cells starting from a pack, I'd just make a 2.5 L starter.

Pragmatic!

[denny]

Correct.  Decant the spent wort from the first round before adding more.

I've never found the first-stage-starter decanting to be necessary unless I need the extra volume/head space.  Is there a good reason why it would be from your perspective?

Mainly space reasons

[klickitat jim]

Dilution I'm guessing. When I step up yeast I don't decant either, but I'm going from slant to 20ml to 200ml to 2L. 10% isn't much dilution and you can just bump the °p up if it freaks you out too much.

I wonder about staged starters when people are pitching 100ml to 1L, decanting and adding another 1L. At some point it seems the growth will not be what some expect because the yeast amount will be getting close to max for the volume anyway. I know I get great growth with 1:10 and probably could go 1:20 if the nutrients are there.

Edit: Denny was typing while I was. Lol

[klickitat jim]

Probably the best way to get a huge pitch is to brew a session beer...

[ynotbrusum]

Probably the best way to get a huge pitch is to brew a session beer...

^^^^This is my preferred route.  It's about the only time I make a small batch of lager beer.

[Steve Ruch]

Probably the best way to get a huge pitch is to brew a session beer...

What he said.

[bboy9000]

Another way is to pitch yeast that are active into well oxygenated wort. If they are in exponential phase the difference between 200 and 400 billion cells is about 90 minutes.

Yes, listen to Jim.  For the nth time, I miss having Mark on here.  Can we sticky some of his posts?

Probably the best way to get a huge pitch is to brew a session beer...

+2 or something.  This is also an effective, practical way to grow yeast.  If I want a Scotch Ale brew a 60 shilling and pitch the cake into the Scotch Ale.

[narcout]

I wonder about staged starters when people are pitching 100ml to 1L, decanting and adding another 1L. At some point it seems the growth will not be what some expect because the yeast amount will be getting close to max for the volume anyway.

That's a good point that is probably often missed.  I believe the max is 200B per liter.  If you've already got 200B cells, you aren't going to grow more by decanting them into another liter of wort - yet another thing I learned from S.C.