What is the best way to step up a starter?

[Oldskewl]

I am planning to brew a Belgian Quad and need about 380 billion cells. I only have a 2L flask. I do have a stirplate as well. I have read a few different write ups and referenced a couple different charts. But the info seems to be conflicting. I will be starting from a new vial of wlp530.

 

[flars]

These two pitch rate/starter calculators will be of help. Cold crash between steps so you can pour off the spent wort before adding the new wort for step 2

I would not go higher than a 1.5 liters of starter wort in a 2 liter flask. Even with 1.5 liters in the flask the krausen produced with some yeast strains may still be an over flow.

http://www.brewunited.com/yeast_calculator.php
http://www.brewersfriend.com/yeast-pitch-rate-and-starter-calculator/

Starters can be fermented at room temperature. You will not need to propagate the yeast at the planned fermentation temperature of the beer.

 

[JonM]

Y'know, you COULD do the whole make one starter, decant, step up the dregs, etc. etc. thing OR you could just make a 2 gallon batch of a patersbier (or however big the calculator says) and use the yeast cake from that. If you're going to make a huge starter, might as well get some good beer out of it.

 

[jschein]

What JonM said, very simple and free beer

 

[jivy26]

I use a gallon pickle jar to get 3l starters done

 

[peanasky]

Y'know, you COULD do the whole make one starter, decant, step up the dregs, etc. etc. thing OR you could just make a 2 gallon batch of a patersbier (or however big the calculator says) and use the yeast cake from that. If you're going to make a huge starter, might as well get some good beer out of it.

Well, I learned a new word today! Will have to look into doing this, especially since I brew 3 gallon batches anyways.

 

[Oldskewl]

Me too! The patersbier is a great idea. I wish I had the time. Seems I have hard enough time getting time to brew as it is. I guess I need to trust the calculators and give a step up a try. Still amazes me that 2 seperate 1L starters yield approx 33% more yeast cells than a 2L starter alone.

 

[flars]

When the step up starter is a greater volume than the previous you will have even more new yeast propagated according to the calculators.