8 replies to this topic

[beach]

Help, I think. So, I put a vial of WLP001 into a 500ml starter wort to begin the building process for this weekends brew. I used 50g of light DME to 500 ml H2O, boiled for 20 minutes, cooled, & put it on the stir plate yesterday (03.02) at about 9am and let her go. I saw no krausen activity at all by 5pm last night so I fed it some yeast nutrient & let it go overnight. This morning...still no signs of active fermentation. Crap! I just checked the OG & it was down to 1.014 from 1.038. OK, so it is fermenting....slowly. The yeast has a "best before" date of 07.20.09, so it's resonably fresh. What to do? Should I feed it anotheer 500ml of wort to continue building/growing or get a new vial of yeast & start again? I used the same process I've used in the past with great sucess & have always had very active fermantation within a couple of hours, even with yeast that is not nearly as fresh. BTW brew day is Sunday, so time is not critical...yet.

[ncbeerbrewer]

I have never used a stir plate for starters but I have made plenty of them. Based on your gravities I don't see a problem with your starter as is. I would think just let it go. If you made up your starter to get the volume of yeast you need for your beer I say just go with it and pitch it on sunday. Just my $0.02

[BFB]

Did the little yeasties do any reproducing? Do you have a decent layer of yeast?Do whatever makes you feel comfortable. I personally would use it as is. I've had starters that never had any visible signs of fermentation, yet still did ferment.

[BrianBrewerKS]

You don't see as much krausen in an active stirplate, do you? and the yeast are mostly in suspension instead of building layers on the bottom, right? So it could be that the starter is doing just fine...<----------- has a stir plate, but has only used it once since he built it....mainly 'cuz I don't have a good stirbar yet.

[beach]

Did the little yeasties do any reproducing? Do you have a decent layer of yeast?Do whatever makes you feel comfortable. I personally would use it as is. I've had starters that never had any visible signs of fermentation, yet still did ferment.

Thanks for the help BFB & nc.I haven't cooled the starter down yet to see how much yeast I do have. I was shooting for a 1000ml starter, so, I think I'll feed the liitle guys another 500ml of wort, stirplate for a day, cool to floculate & see what I end up with.

[beach]

You don't see as much krausen in an active stirplate, do you? and the yeast are mostly in suspension instead of building layers on the bottom, right? So it could be that the starter is doing just fine...<----------- has a stir plate, but has only used it once since he built it....mainly 'cuz I don't have a good stirbar yet.

The question arose when I didn't see krausen on this starter like I have on my others; but, this is my 1st use of WLP001I was going to build a stirplate, added up the cost of materials, found a lab grade stir/hot plate (ok, so I don't really need the heat, but it was there) on eBay for $25. Went that route. Stir bar....$3.50+$1 shipping-eBay...looking for a link....can't find it, sorry.

[BrianBrewerKS]

Stir bar....$3.50+$1 shipping-eBay...looking for a link....can't find it, sorry.

Thanks. I just checked eBay and bought a 1"x5/16" one.Now I'll see how long it is until I lose it.

[Zulu]

Often dont see krausen build up on the stirplate, maybe just a little foam on sides.I judge mine by build up after 36 hours, stirs for 24, then sits for 12 and check.I just do 100gms in a 1000ml from beginning with one tube of 001 - I use it all the time.99% of the time I pitch right from there , starter beings Thursday night , brew Sat morning.

[beach]

Thanks Zulu. I fed the starter another 500ml of wort & I've got a nice little ring of krausen. Sorry for the "panic" No......my beer isn't ruined