re: Homebrewing Thread: Volume II

Sorry, I am a pretty novice homebrewer. You are going to have to explain what this means:

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1) it's a low attenuative strain

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Also, I have never made a starter nor do I have an erlynmeyer flask. Truth be told I didn't even know what a starter was until you just mentioned it. Can I pitch more without a starter? I'll probably look into getting all that stuff on the next batch.

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Sorry, I am a pretty novice homebrewer. You are going to have to explain what this means:
quote:
1) it's a low attenuative strain

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so when you see your different yeasts you will see and attenuation percentage. this is the measurement of the conversion of sugars into alcohol and c02. So a high attenuative strain will convert a ton of the sugars and bring your FG very very low. a low attenuative strain wont bring your FG down as far.

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Also, I have never made a starter nor do I have an erlynmeyer flask. Truth be told I didn't even know what a starter was until you just mentioned it. Can I pitch more without a starter? I'll probably look into getting all that stuff on the next batch.

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you dont need a flask, just a vessel to grow yeast that is sterile like a carboy. You basically make a small batch of wort with DME(OG 1.038) and you pitch your single bag of yeast (100 billion, but based on age could be 75%,50%,30% of original amount). Once it is grown you can decant and it is ready to pitch in your wort. So instead of paying 8 bucks a bag when a beer calls for 500billion cells($8x5=40$) you buy one and grow it to a fully active yeast cake.

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GeauxPack81

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Everything mentioned below is correct.

And you can use a mason jar to make a yeast starter. It doesn't take much. Like CarRamrod said, buy some dried malt extract (DME) and boil some water. brewer's friend has a good yeast starter calculator for your phone. just look up the yeast pitch calculator. My process:

12-48 hours before brew day:

1. Determine my wort gravity for starter. You don't really want to go over 1.045 for a starter. You're simply giving the yeast some easily fermentable sugars and not trying to make beer out of the starter. You want to wake up the yeast. I typically shoot for 1.036 to 1.04 for my gravity for a starter and plug that in.
2. I typically make 1.5 to 2 liter starters, depending on the strain, but on average, my go to is this size. So measure out 1.5 liters of water and bring it to a boil (i do so in a pot, others do it in the erlinmeyer flask. If not using this flask, just use a pot). Add your DME to the pot. Be very careful of boil overs. I typically add a drop or 2 of Fermcap-S to the starter. In addition, i add yeast nutrient to the starter.
3. Reduce to a low boil for about 10 minutes.
4. Cut off heat, and cool to yeast pitching temps. I usually just fill the sink with ice and water and put the pot in the sink.
5. Once to preferred yeast pitching temp, pitch yeast. I then swirl around a bit.
6. Cover with foil. I typically spray some starsan on the foil.
7. (optional) place on stirplate. A stirplate is optional, but they really do help. If you don't have a stir plate, then just swirl your jar every now and then until you are ready to pitch into your fermenter. If i didn't have a stir plate, i would probably make my starters 2 days in advance. With a stir plate, if i have a newer vial of yeast, i'll make my starter as soon as 12 hours prior to brew day.

Thanks for all the advice from everyone...

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4. Cut off heat, and cool to yeast pitching temps. I usually just fill the sink with ice and water and put the pot in the sink.
5. Once to preferred yeast pitching temp, pitch yeast. I then swirl around a bit.
6. Cover with foil. I typically spray some starsan on the foil.

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I am assuming you transfer to an Erlenmeyer flask or something similar somewhere in this part of the process?


Also, at what point is it too late to add more yeast? As long as I still give it the appropriate time to ferment after adding the yeast?

You can also use something like Propper Starter or Fast Pitch canned wort. Then you just pour the can into your flask/jar along with a 16oz bottle of water and add your yeast. I've taken to using these instead of boiling DME and water then chilling. It's easy to just pop a top and have my yeast starter going in 2 minutes.

Propper Starter

Fast Pitch

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You can also use something like Propper Starter or Fast Pitch canned wort. Then you just pour the can into your flask/jar along with a 16oz bottle of water and add your yeast. I've taken to using these instead of boiling DME and water then chilling. It's easy to just pop a top and have my yeast starter going in 2 minutes.

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You can also can your own starter wort in mason jars if you have a pressure cooker. I used to do about 3 gallons at a time and then open up a couple of jars of wort when I need to make a starter. Now my starters are a gallon (sometimes more) so it's not as convenient for me as it used to be.

Just texted J Murdah to confirm that was you.

Started a thread, was told to come here haha. A lot of this is over my head. What would yall recommend for a complete novice? Kits, types of beer to start on, lessons learned, etc? Thanks guys

I moved out of state, but there's tons of beer supply stores up here (South Carolina) so I'm sure there's something comparable. I just didn't know if there was a starter kit that had the necessary components somewhere.

I have an empty room in my house that I can basically use to set whatever I need up.

Whats a swamp cooler?