Beer Forum

I need to make a BIG Lager starter. Unfortunatly i only have 1 Activator pack and 3 Pounds of dry malt. What size should my 1st starter be, and what size starter should i pitch that into? Im only willing to do a two step starter.

Ive been thinking what would be the best way to decant the wort on top of the yeast?
Could i syphone the wort of (put hose in and suck)?

TYVM

I would use this to determine how big of a starter you need.
http://www.mrmalty.com/calc/calc.html

As for decanting, just stick the starter in the fridge for a few days. Once the yeast has settled to the bottom simply pour off the spent beer.

it also depends on how many times you are going to grow it. if you have a stir plate, general rule of thumb is 2000 ML will double your yeast count. The most common ratio for starter wort is 1:10 1gram DME to 10 ML water. Or 200 grams DME in a 2000ML flask.

tavish2 wrote:if you have a stir plate, general rule of thumb is 2000 ML will double your yeast count.

No, I think that's just with shaking it every time you walk by. If you believe Jamil's calculator, a 1 litre starter on a stirplate will grow a vial to 2.4 times what you started with.

siwelwerd wrote:

tavish2 wrote:if you have a stir plate, general rule of thumb is 2000 ML will double your yeast count.

No, I think that's just with shaking it every time you walk by. If you believe Jamil's calculator, a 1 litre starter on a stirplate will grow a vial to 2.4 times what you started with.

not according to any of the interviews by chris white. he has said that you do not get any yeast growth under 2000ml w/o a stir plate. and if you have a stirplate you get roughly double the yeast if you let it ferment out completly. I know that the calculator is fairly good estimate, but jamil has said in the past that there are some assumptions that are "best guess" that get you in the ball bark of where you need to be. Especially since different strains have different growth rates and attenuation rates (which is calculator does not account for)

Thanks guys. I dont have a stir plate. My batch size is 12.5 Gallons and it's 1.048 SG. Mr Malty says i need 3 packs in a 22 litre starter (fat chance). What would be the best way to use up my 3 pounds of malt. Im only willing to make 2 starters.

TYVM

make a 5 gallon starter of a lighter beer. Pitch the yeast cake from that into your 12.5 gallon batch. more beer to drink