14 replies to this topic

[positiveContact]

so it says 100 billion cells. is that before you smack it or after? if before, how many cells do you have after?

[SchwanzBrewer]

pretty sure it's still 100B. There may be more, but probably not enough to matter.

[MtnBrewer]

pretty sure it's still 100B. There may be more, but probably not enough to matter.

Pretty sure you're right about that. Just FYI, I almost never bother to smack them. I just dump them straight into the starter.

[positiveContact]

Pretty sure you're right about that. Just FYI, I almost never bother to smack them. I just dump them straight into the starter.

any reason? I guess if it was really fresh I could see skipping it. if the pack is a month or so old I might want to smake it up to get an idea of how viable it is.

[MtnBrewer]

any reason? I guess if it was really fresh I could see skipping it. if the pack is a month or so old I might want to smake it up to get an idea of how viable it is.

The starter will tell me how viable it is.

[positiveContact]

The starter will tell me how viable it is.

I hate wasting DME

[MtnBrewer]

I hate wasting DME

It certainly is a precious resource, up there with fresh water and old-growth fir. Seriously tho, I hate wasting time and waiting for a smack pack to puff up adds another day or two. In practice, I've never had my yeast not be viable so it's pretty much a non-issue anyway.

[SchwanzBrewer]

It certainly is a precious resource, up there with fresh water and old-growth fir. Seriously tho, I hate wasting time and waiting for a smack pack to puff up adds another day or two. In practice, I've never had my yeast not be viable so it's pretty much a non-issue anyway.

Only once for me. I don't smack them anymore. When I bring them home the GF LOVES to smack them, it's therapeutic.

[Poptop]

Only once for me. I don't smack them anymore. When I bring them home the GF LOVES to smack them, it's therapeutic.

It sure beats other alternatives

[denny]

I hate wasting DME

Smacking a pack is not a sub for a starter. Wyeast has told me that there's so little cell growth after smacking it that you can virtually discount it.

[matt6150]

Smacking a pack is not a sub for a starter. Wyeast has told me that there's so little cell growth after smacking it that you can virtually discount it.

So basically its a gimmicky thing.

[MtnBrewer]

Smacking a pack is not a sub for a starter. Wyeast has told me that there's so little cell growth after smacking it that you can virtually discount it.

I think Studs was saying that if the pack doesn't swell because the yeast isn't viable, then he wouldn't have to waste making a starter. I can't imagine that being a common enough problem that it's a a real issue.

[denny]

So basically its a gimmicky thing.

Not really. It's a way to check the viability of the yeast if you want to. I'd consider it a gimmick if they said smacking would lead to significant cell growth and it didn't.

[denny]

I think Studs was saying that if the pack doesn't swell because the yeast isn't viable, then he wouldn't have to waste making a starter. I can't imagine that being a common enough problem that it's a a real issue.

Oh, I guess I missed that.....lack of sleep!

[positiveContact]

Oh, I guess I missed that.....lack of sleep!

I always make starters. maybe too big b/c the only thing I hate wasting more than DME is 5/10 gallons of wort!