Need some help calculating starter volume.

[Marius]

Hey guys, maybe someone can help me.

I'm planning to brew a big batch of beer and I'm a bit confused.

80 liter batch (21,13 gallons)
OG 1050
Wyeast 1099 or 1056 (yet to decide)

1.- I guess I need around 5-6 million cells per mililiter. Correct?

2.- Following Wyeast's website calculator if I start with one packet plus 1 liter (0,26 gall) starter with stirplate, ferment, cold crash and decant, then add 2 liters of wort (0,53 gall) ferment again with stirplate, cold crash, decant and add it to my 80 liter (21,13 gall) i would have around 6,7 mill cells per mililiter. Correct?

here is the link to the calculator
http://www.wyeastlab.com/hb_pitchrate.cfm

I saw similar results in a document by northerbrewer but I still think its quite a small starter.

3.- I asked Wyeast and they told me this is not enough, they recommended start with one liter (0,26 gall) and then add 8 liters (2,13 gall) then pitch to my brew.

This one seems a huge one to me

Any suggestion?

Thanks

 

[Cyclman]

For that volume, Mr malty http://www.mrmalty.com/calc/calc.html states you'd need to use 4 fresh packs in a 2l starter.

For batches that large, you probably need to be doing a very large starter, or better, brew a low gravity beer and get the yeast from that.