fendersrule
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- Oct 11, 2018
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I ordered a StirStarter. I got the small one. Did not realize that they also made the larger one (didn't list on their website that I could see).
I ordered a Pyrex 2000ML flask. I want something that I can boil inside of using either my gas range, or my propane range (outside).
I started to doubt what I just bought, because sometimes I make 10 gallon beers (not often). But I realized that I can use the 2000ML for 10 gallon beers as long as the OG doesn't exceed 1.062-1.0163ish (going off of Mr. Malty's Calculator) AND as long as I use some FermCap. For example, 1.062-1.063 OG for beer (10 gallons) requires 1.77L of starter, which will require about 170 grams of DME.
I am also aware that you can "double up" or whatever on the starter, though I don't know how that calculation works. More below on an example.
I'm hoping that this unlocks new avenues for brewing. I have typically found that with dry yeast (US-05, S-04, Nottingham) and as long as a decently healthy pitch is made, I always turned out great beer, even without rehydrating.
When it came to liquid yeast, I am 0-2 so far. I had one beer turn out just flat-out bad, and I had one beer that turned out to be too much on the sugar side, almost like a stalled fermentation (even though it landed at 1.015-1.016 if I recall correctly). I'm attributing this simply to not using a starter with liquid yeast. Looking at Mr. Malty's calculator, it's quite clear that you are undergoing heavy risk by using liquid yeast (especially if it isn't fresh) without using a starter. I am hoping that using a yeast starter will allow me to also explore new liquid yeasts which will widen the variety of my beers.
Here's what I'm learning so far using Mr. Malty's Calculator
1) Date of liquid yeast is a huge variable. A liquid yeast that is 3 months old heavily affects its viability--way more than I ever thought. Example, using 5 gallons of 1.070 wort:
A packet dated of 9/09/2020 will require 2 packets with 1 L of starter (100g of DME)
A packet dated of 11/10/2020 will require 1 packet with 1.1L of starter (110g of DME)
This to me tells me that if the liquid yeast is over 1 month old, get two packets. OR, move the slider on Mr. Malty to the "user larger starter" slide and use a larger amount of starter. So instead of
A packet dated of 9/09/2020 will require 2 packets with 1L of starter (100g of DME)
I could do:
A packet dated of 9/09/2020 will require 1 packets with 2.5L of starter (250g of DME)--which my flask doesn't support.
2) It appears that it's not always going to be exactly 1L of a starter for 5G. This could variate due to the OG, size, and yeast viability date. Sometimes it's 1.1L (example above). Sometimes I suppose it could be 1.5L. Typically it won't be under 1L though for 5 gallons.
3) For 10G batches, it seems like I could use a 2L flask if a) the liquid yeast is dated recent, b) Fermcap is used, c) the OG of the beer is less than 1.062-1.063. Otherwise, I would need to make half of the starter, decant, boil the other half of DME in the appropriate amount of liquid using a stove pot, cool, then add to the 2L flask, effectively giving me double the amount. Do I have the general gist of this right? I can ask more detailed questions later on when I get there.
4) My Process will be as followed:
1. Place empty flask on gram scale and zero scale
2. Load in desired amount of DME (100g for a 1L starter--5 Gallons, 200g for 2L starter --10 Gallons, etc)
3. Fill flask with water to reach starter level. Add .1L to account for boil off
4. Boil 10 minutes. Before boil, add fermcap if flask is on the full side.
5. Cover with foil for last 2-3 minutes of boil to sanitize.
6. Dunk in ice bath to chill
7. Pitch yeast and put on stir plate. 12-24 hours.
8. Cold Crash Yeast (fridge) overnight before brew day
9. Remove, decant, swirl, and pitch!
I ordered a Pyrex 2000ML flask. I want something that I can boil inside of using either my gas range, or my propane range (outside).
I started to doubt what I just bought, because sometimes I make 10 gallon beers (not often). But I realized that I can use the 2000ML for 10 gallon beers as long as the OG doesn't exceed 1.062-1.0163ish (going off of Mr. Malty's Calculator) AND as long as I use some FermCap. For example, 1.062-1.063 OG for beer (10 gallons) requires 1.77L of starter, which will require about 170 grams of DME.
I am also aware that you can "double up" or whatever on the starter, though I don't know how that calculation works. More below on an example.
I'm hoping that this unlocks new avenues for brewing. I have typically found that with dry yeast (US-05, S-04, Nottingham) and as long as a decently healthy pitch is made, I always turned out great beer, even without rehydrating.
When it came to liquid yeast, I am 0-2 so far. I had one beer turn out just flat-out bad, and I had one beer that turned out to be too much on the sugar side, almost like a stalled fermentation (even though it landed at 1.015-1.016 if I recall correctly). I'm attributing this simply to not using a starter with liquid yeast. Looking at Mr. Malty's calculator, it's quite clear that you are undergoing heavy risk by using liquid yeast (especially if it isn't fresh) without using a starter. I am hoping that using a yeast starter will allow me to also explore new liquid yeasts which will widen the variety of my beers.
Here's what I'm learning so far using Mr. Malty's Calculator
1) Date of liquid yeast is a huge variable. A liquid yeast that is 3 months old heavily affects its viability--way more than I ever thought. Example, using 5 gallons of 1.070 wort:
A packet dated of 9/09/2020 will require 2 packets with 1 L of starter (100g of DME)
A packet dated of 11/10/2020 will require 1 packet with 1.1L of starter (110g of DME)
This to me tells me that if the liquid yeast is over 1 month old, get two packets. OR, move the slider on Mr. Malty to the "user larger starter" slide and use a larger amount of starter. So instead of
A packet dated of 9/09/2020 will require 2 packets with 1L of starter (100g of DME)
I could do:
A packet dated of 9/09/2020 will require 1 packets with 2.5L of starter (250g of DME)--which my flask doesn't support.
2) It appears that it's not always going to be exactly 1L of a starter for 5G. This could variate due to the OG, size, and yeast viability date. Sometimes it's 1.1L (example above). Sometimes I suppose it could be 1.5L. Typically it won't be under 1L though for 5 gallons.
3) For 10G batches, it seems like I could use a 2L flask if a) the liquid yeast is dated recent, b) Fermcap is used, c) the OG of the beer is less than 1.062-1.063. Otherwise, I would need to make half of the starter, decant, boil the other half of DME in the appropriate amount of liquid using a stove pot, cool, then add to the 2L flask, effectively giving me double the amount. Do I have the general gist of this right? I can ask more detailed questions later on when I get there.
4) My Process will be as followed:
1. Place empty flask on gram scale and zero scale
2. Load in desired amount of DME (100g for a 1L starter--5 Gallons, 200g for 2L starter --10 Gallons, etc)
3. Fill flask with water to reach starter level. Add .1L to account for boil off
4. Boil 10 minutes. Before boil, add fermcap if flask is on the full side.
5. Cover with foil for last 2-3 minutes of boil to sanitize.
6. Dunk in ice bath to chill
7. Pitch yeast and put on stir plate. 12-24 hours.
8. Cold Crash Yeast (fridge) overnight before brew day
9. Remove, decant, swirl, and pitch!