90 replies to this topic

[klickcue]

I might add that my volumes of wort equals enough extra to have 100 billion cells in the the volume for a pint of wort that equals 100 billion cells. This equals the same amount of yeast as a smack pack or a vial of yeast.The pint of beer/yeast is saved in the refrig for the next starter to create another starter to be grown up ($6.5 to $9 depending on your source)Since my sanitation techniques are good, this same starter pitch my be used 10 to 15 times before starting with a new slant or smack pack. Your miles may vary depending on how clean you are. I love bugs as some know so I am doing pretty good with my technique of keeping bugs out of my clean yeast.Have fun with yeast and learn from them!

[Jdtirado]

How do you know when your starter yeast is ready to come off the stir plate? Is there a visual cue that I should be looking for?I'm asking because I have WL here yeast on the stir plate right now.

[MtnBrewer]

It stops fermenting.

[Jdtirado]

It stops fermenting.

Yeah so should I get a specific gravity? Since no airlock and it spinning on the plate, I don't see any bubbles. Is there a way to tell visually?

[MtnBrewer]

It stops making bubbles.

[Jdtirado]

It stops making bubbles.

Hmmmm over 12 hrs and I don't detect any bubbles. All I have is a swirling tan milky liquid swirling. Even when I turn off the stir plate, I don't see any detectable bubbles yet.

[MtnBrewer]

How big is the starter and are you using Fermcap? Mine always makes a little foam on top while it's fermenting even with fermcap. I don't know what it does without it because I always use it in starters. Before mine starts, it's med. brown but when the yeast start reproducing, it turns to a light tan. Maybe yours already fermented out, judging by the color but 12 hours is pretty fast, which is why I asked how big the starter is.

[Jdtirado]

How big is the starter and are you using Fermcap? Mine always makes a little foam on top while it's fermenting even with fermcap. I don't know what it does without it because I always use it in starters. Before mine starts, it's med. brown but when the yeast start reproducing, it turns to a light tan. Maybe yours already fermented out, judging by the color but 12 hours is pretty fast, which is why I asked how big the starter is.

I put in 4 oz of DME in 1000 ml of water. No Fermcap here. It is a light tan color. I'm thinking that I will let it go 36 hours then refrigerate so it will separate and I can decanth it.

[brewman]

How do you know when your starter yeast is ready to come off the stir plate? Is there a visual cue that I should be looking for?I'm asking because I have WL here yeast on the stir plate right now.

Yea I have the same question. I put mine on the stir plate last night around 8 pm and this morning I see no difference then last night when I put it on. How do I know its working???Dan

[MtnBrewer]

Yea I have the same question. I put mine on the stir plate last night around 8 pm and this morning I see no difference then last night when I put it on. How do I know its working???Dan

It will get lighter in color and it will foam up a little while it's fermenting. Same as a full batch.

[brewman]

What if I see no foam, should I get new yeast?Dan

[MtnBrewer]

Not yet. Check it at the end of the day. How big is your starter? JD's was small and appears to have fermented out in several hours. Sounds like yours hasn't started yet but that's not abnormal. I'd say his was abnormally fast. After it ferments out, and you chill it, the yeast will be at the bottom of the flask in a white layer.

[Jdtirado]

Not yet. Check it at the end of the day. How big is your starter? JD's was small and appears to have fermented out in several hours. Sounds like yours hasn't started yet but that's not abnormal. I'd say his was abnormally fast. After it ferments out, and you chill it, the yeast will be at the bottom of the flask in a white layer.

Here is mine. What do you guys think?

[MtnBrewer]

Yep that's either fermenting or already done. Is that a little foam around the edge? I can't tell.

[Jdtirado]

Very little MTN

[Mya]

Very little MTN

looks like it's still going to me

[MtnBrewer]

looks like it's still going to me

Kinda does to me too. But I usually have some foam down in the vortex too, which I don't see here.It's been going, what...24 hours or so? I think it's probably ok to go ahead and crash it.

[Jdtirado]

Kinda does to me too. But I usually have some foam down in the vortex too, which I don't see here.It's been going, what...24 hours or so? I think it's probably ok to go ahead and crash it.

Yeah I started it at 0900 yesterday. I will put it in the fridge a an hour or so. I was planning to leave it in the fridge a day or maybe two. Is this ok?

[MtnBrewer]

Yeah I started it at 0900 yesterday. I will put it in the fridge a an hour or so. I was planning to leave it in the fridge a day or maybe two. Is this ok?

Probably two. However long it takes for the yeast to settle. I wouldn't expect a lot of yeast from a starter this size so maybe only one day. (Sorry to call your starter little but it is.)

[beach]

That will be fine John. The yeast will floc out and you'll be left with clear beer on the top and a pretty, creamy layer of yeast on the bottom.Beach