Beer Forum

This weekend I plan on brewing an Imperial IPA. According to my calculations (and computers) I'm expecting a 10.5% ABV beer. I have a slappack of Wyeast ringwood ale, and am doing a 5 gallon batch. Will I be ok with this? The highest alcohol beer I've done before was 8.5% ABV and did fine with the slappack of the same yeast. Never really done much for starters except for half ass one when re-using yeast slurries. They've always worried me, since I have no stir plate, and of course 2 cats, a dog, and a 4 year old who like to get into things.

Crinkle

If you only add 1 smack pack you would be seriously Underpitching for a beer that big...I would say you would need to do at least 3 Liter starter, or you would need 3 smack packs.

also the tolerance of that yeast is only 10% ABV...so they may floc out early and you will under attenuate(esp if you do not pitch enough)

So No that will not be enough yeast....

Ok, so what's an easy way to do the starter? I can smack the pack today. I plan on brewing on sunday.

http://www.mrmalty.com/

Should answer all your questions...

If you don't feel like making a starter, then get 2 packs of fermentis safale US-05 to rehydrate and pitch into your wort. This is the classic Chico ale strain and will do a great job for cheap on your IIPA. Good luck !