10 replies to this topic

[consumptionjunction]

I live in South Miami and don't use the AC much. It's typically between 78-81F. I'm planning on doing a two step starter for my next high-gravity beer. It would be fermenting at the high temperature, cool-crashed, decanted, pitched into a larger second starter at the high temperatures, cool-crashed, decanted, and finally pitched into my beer. Will I have any problems doing the starters at these high temperatures? Does it matter that the starter is not fermenting at the temperature I plan on fermenting my beer?

[denny]

You should be OK although you're at about the limit of what I'd consider OK.

[Big Nake]

Yeah, I guess I like the idea of a starter doing its thing at "room temp" and then used at whatever the primary fermentation temp was (50°, 65°, whatever...), but I don't think I've ever had a starter sit at 78-81°. I would assume that it's okay, as Denny said... but I would also guess that you're pushing it. Please report back on how it comes out.

[SchwanzBrewer]

I used a starter for the first time on my last batch of MLPA. I'm in tampa, w/AC @ 75, put it on the counter top and let it go for about 18 hours before I poured the whole thing in my fermenter (swamp cooler). No extra steps needed. It worked great, the yeast was going nuts and looked like a rolling boil. It was WYeast1056 I from a smack pack I believe.So far the beer is excellent!Cheers,Rich

Edited by rcemech, 30 September 2009 - 12:55 PM.

[Jimmy James]

I've done plenty of starters on the countertop at 80F - no problems to report. Just be sure you do get your final stepped up starter in the fridge early so it crashes out good and you don't have to add any of that nasty wort to your beer!

[djinkc]

I think that's a little warm, but it probably won't matter much assuming the rest of the process is good.When I restarted I would put my starters on top of the water heater (winter and the basement was a little cool). Didn't know any better at the time, and I would usually pitch the whole shebang into the wort.Now, I don't make any extra effort for ales and hybrids - ambient temp in my basement is 70 - 72df. I almost always make the effort to crash and decant as much liquid as possible unless it's a yeast that won't throw funk at higher temps. My brews are much better than back then but there have been a lot of factors involved. I would probably try to drop it 5 df with a waterbath/evaporative cooling if possible. Anyway, every little bit helps to make better stuff.The thing is once you start paying attention to the little stuff for one phase of the process, you'll start doing it in other areas too. Sometimes that makes the difference between good and great.

[consumptionjunction]

Awesome. I plan on decanting each step of the starter, and it's being pitched into a big baltic porter, so I'm not too concerned with oxidation or yeast-derived off-flavors. It also seems that this temp will not be too detrimental to yeast health either. If I run into any problems, I'll be sure to address this topic again. Thanks!

[3rd party JKor]

Careful the temp doesn't get too high. It could really depend on your stirplate. I've had starters going at 75°F ambient that were close to 90°F liquid temp. If you have a thermocouple, put it in between the stirplate and the flask. If it gets above 90 I wouldn't use it.

[consumptionjunction]

I did consider this and ran my stir plate for a while just to see if it would heat up, and it didn't, at least according to the rule of thumb. Being anal, i'll likely check again with more accurate equipment now that you brought it up... Thanks!

[pete maz]

I did consider this and ran my stir plate for a while just to see if it would heat up, and it didn't, at least according to the rule of thumb. Being anal, i'll likely check again with more accurate equipment now that you brought it up... Thanks!

My stir plate gets pretty warm if I let it run for more than about 4 hrs or so. Eventually it heats up the wort, but I've never measured how much. I've got a starter going right now that I'd guess was in the mid-high 80's the other day. This has happened a number of times, but I've never seen any off flavors or performance issues.That said, this latest episode of the starter heating up has me thinking about wiring a small muffin fan into the base of the stir plate, to dissipate some of the heat.

[beach]

I have a laboratory stir plate that generates a fair amount of heat. I put a hot pad on the stir plate for a little insulation and then keep the flask in a plastic bowl/water bath. When it gets too warm I toss in an ice cube or two. At least that's what I used to do until I picked up a mini fridg & added a temp control. Now I just set the temp & let her spin. Beach