Membership questions? Log in issues? Email info@brewersassociation.org

Author Topic: Starter Question  (Read 1880 times)

Offline bendbrew

  • Assistant Brewer
  • ***
  • Posts: 128
Starter Question
« on: October 01, 2010, 05:33:55 pm »
Okay, paranoia check.  I have a 2L starter going on a stirplate.  Got home and found that the aluminum foil cap had been lifted off with the flask opening very slightly visible.  Should I be worried about contamination or while the stirplate action be blowing out the baddies?

Thanks

Offline a10t2

  • Official Poobah of No Life. (I Got Ban Hammered by Drew)
  • *********
  • Posts: 4696
  • Ask me why I don't like Chico!
    • SeanTerrill.com
Re: Starter Question
« Reply #1 on: October 01, 2010, 05:41:36 pm »
No worries. Unless your kitchen/basement/whatever is absolutely filthy, you could probably leave the foil off and not have any problems. Yeast are pretty good at killing off the baddies, and they're going to have a helluva numerical advantage too.
Sent from my Microsoft Bob

Beer is like porn. You can buy it, but it's more fun to make your own.
Refractometer Calculator | Batch Sparging Calculator | Two Mile Brewing Co.

Offline redbeerman

  • Senior Brewmaster
  • ******
  • Posts: 1849
  • On the banks of the mighty Susquehanna in MD
Re: Starter Question
« Reply #2 on: October 02, 2010, 06:47:24 am »
No worries. Unless your kitchen/basement/whatever is absolutely filthy, you could probably leave the foil off and not have any problems. Yeast are pretty good at killing off the baddies, and they're going to have a helluva numerical advantage too.

+1  You should be fine.
CH3CH2OH - Without it, life itself would be impossible.

[441, 112.1deg] AR

Jim

Offline Hokerer

  • I spend way too much time on the AHA forum
  • ********
  • Posts: 2654
  • Manassas, VA
Re: Starter Question
« Reply #3 on: October 02, 2010, 08:22:16 am »
Agreed.  RDWHAHB
Joe

Offline beerocd

  • Senior Brewmaster
  • ******
  • Posts: 1429
Re: Starter Question
« Reply #4 on: October 02, 2010, 09:45:22 am »
Unless you have these guys in the house. I probably won't even brew till first freeze now.

The moral majority, is neither.

Offline bluesman

  • I must live here
  • **********
  • Posts: 8825
  • Delaware
Re: Starter Question
« Reply #5 on: October 02, 2010, 06:57:18 pm »
A freind of mine has mold in her basement and asked me the same question.  My response was to generate the starter using an airlock.  I know that it is perfectly fine using aluminum foil covering the flask but it is better to be safe than to risk an infected starter.

On that note...I agree with the other posters in that assuming your home is fairly clean and mold free you should be AOK.  ;)
Ron Price

Offline bendbrew

  • Assistant Brewer
  • ***
  • Posts: 128
Re: Starter Question
« Reply #6 on: October 03, 2010, 08:30:06 am »
Thanks all:  brewed yesterday-the flask was filled with yeast (still on the stir plate).  No mold in the house-very dry climate.  Should be fine and thanks for the advice.