How quickly can I use a yeast starter?

[Brew Askew]

I want to brew later today but I forgot to make a yeast starter last night. Should I go ahead and make a starter now and then brew in a few hours or should I forget the starter, brew and just pitch the dry yeast straight in the carboy?

I am making an APA target OG 1.070

Thanks for the info.

[siwelwerd]

With dry yeast, you don't typically need nor want a starter. Simply rehydrate and pitch.

[Mills]

+1

Heres how: http://www.howtobrew.com/section1/chapter6-5.html

Mills

[Brew Askew]

Great one more question. How long is star San good? I have some that has been in a bucket for a few months. Is it still good? Should I mix up a new batch?

Thanks again

[spiderwrangler]

It depends on a number of factors. Star San is no longer effective if the pH gets above a certain level. Your particular water chemistry, and whether you were dunking stuff cleaned in PBW in to sanitize can affect your life span of previously used Star San. If it were a fresh batch that you'd mixed up and didn't use, it is still good. I keep a 1L spray bottle on hand with Star San in it for spraying down and sanitizing whatever I need... I believe that it will generally turn cloudy when bad, or at least if it is cloudy it is no longer good.