Yeast starter - is it really a brew day? It’s close enough

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Tomp
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Yeast starter - is it really a brew day? It’s close enough

Post by Tomp » Fri Oct 20, 2017 9:45 am

I’m planning a Weizen this weekend. I’m also trying to improve my brews, so playing with a yeast starter to try to try to improve fermentation and will then report back as to the success (or not). Although not officially a ‘brew’ I thought it might be useful.

First things first....

I’ve invested in a stir plate. I know I could have built one but frankly, I’m soooooo busy, it was easier to just buy one.

After some research, I decided on the Maelstrom available from Beerhawk. It’s not necessary to have a brewing related one andit was towards the expensive end, but it appears nice and easy to clean (smooth plastic top plate) and has the added advantage of a timer so I can stop agitation after 18 hours. This is to allow the yeast to settle out so I don’t have to pitch the whole of the starter.

I’ve ordered a flask which should arrive later today so for now - a few pictures to be getting on with:
Attachments
image.jpg
90083685-ED23-42C6-8675-7B23FA41770C.jpeg
It started with kits to save money and now look........!!!

Lots of kit, too many ingredients and not enough time, but a patient wife.... who loves my beer...........

Could be worse :-)

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orlando
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Re: Yeast starter - is it really a brew day? It’s close enough

Post by orlando » Fri Oct 20, 2017 5:51 pm

Does it heat as well?
I am "The Little Red Brooster"

Fermenting:
Conditioning:
Drinking: Southwold Again,

Up Next: John Barleycorn (Barley Wine)
Planning: Winter drinking Beer

Tomp
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Re: Yeast starter - is it really a brew day? It’s close enough

Post by Tomp » Fri Oct 20, 2017 6:09 pm

2 litres of starter so 200g of light spray malt.

Boiled for about 5 minutes then cooled.
Attachments
image.jpg
image.jpg
It started with kits to save money and now look........!!!

Lots of kit, too many ingredients and not enough time, but a patient wife.... who loves my beer...........

Could be worse :-)

Tomp
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Posts: 97
Joined: Sat May 27, 2017 8:01 pm

Re: Yeast starter - is it really a brew day? It’s close enough

Post by Tomp » Fri Oct 20, 2017 6:56 pm

I’m going to leave it cooling on the stir plate. I’m in no hurry and it means everything is nice and sanitised and mixed.

Off to the pub 🍺🍺
Attachments
image.jpg
It started with kits to save money and now look........!!!

Lots of kit, too many ingredients and not enough time, but a patient wife.... who loves my beer...........

Could be worse :-)

McMullan

Re: Yeast starter - is it really a brew day? It’s close enough

Post by McMullan » Fri Oct 20, 2017 7:02 pm

You're reinventing the 'wheel' mate.

Tomp
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Re: Yeast starter - is it really a brew day? It’s close enough

Post by Tomp » Fri Oct 20, 2017 10:36 pm

And the yeast is in.

Running at about 26 degreees. Set for 18 hours on a fairly low speed ready for brew day Sunday.
Attachments
image.jpg
It started with kits to save money and now look........!!!

Lots of kit, too many ingredients and not enough time, but a patient wife.... who loves my beer...........

Could be worse :-)

Tomp
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Posts: 97
Joined: Sat May 27, 2017 8:01 pm

Re: Yeast starter - is it really a brew day? It’s close enough

Post by Tomp » Fri Oct 20, 2017 10:37 pm

orlando wrote:
Fri Oct 20, 2017 5:51 pm
Does it heat as well?
Just a stir plate. I’m hoping the nice warm kitchen and the natural fermentation of the yeast will keep it going.

We’ll see.
It started with kits to save money and now look........!!!

Lots of kit, too many ingredients and not enough time, but a patient wife.... who loves my beer...........

Could be worse :-)

Tomp
Steady Drinker
Posts: 97
Joined: Sat May 27, 2017 8:01 pm

Re: Yeast starter - is it really a brew day? It’s close enough

Post by Tomp » Sat Oct 21, 2017 6:11 am

Looking good. Temperature nice and stable at about 25.
Attachments
image.jpg
It started with kits to save money and now look........!!!

Lots of kit, too many ingredients and not enough time, but a patient wife.... who loves my beer...........

Could be worse :-)

Tomp
Steady Drinker
Posts: 97
Joined: Sat May 27, 2017 8:01 pm

Re: Yeast starter - is it really a brew day? It’s close enough

Post by Tomp » Sun Oct 22, 2017 8:09 am

Yeast has settled out nicely. A night in the fridge to precipitate all that is possible looks like I’ve achieved a good result.Image


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
It started with kits to save money and now look........!!!

Lots of kit, too many ingredients and not enough time, but a patient wife.... who loves my beer...........

Could be worse :-)

Tomp
Steady Drinker
Posts: 97
Joined: Sat May 27, 2017 8:01 pm

Re: Yeast starter - is it really a brew day? It’s close enough

Post by Tomp » Sun Oct 22, 2017 8:15 am

Symphonies off the excess wort ready for the brew later today. I’ll bring the remainder up to temperature before the brew and then reinvigorate with some of the wort after the brew.Image


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
It started with kits to save money and now look........!!!

Lots of kit, too many ingredients and not enough time, but a patient wife.... who loves my beer...........

Could be worse :-)

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IPA
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Re: Yeast starter - is it really a brew day? It’s close enough

Post by IPA » Sun Oct 22, 2017 9:01 am

Tomp wrote:
Sun Oct 22, 2017 8:15 am
Symphonies off the excess wort ready for the brew later today. I’ll bring the remainder up to temperature before the brew and then reinvigorate with some of the wort after the brew.Image


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
"Symphonies" Better turn off predictive text :lol: :lol: :lol:
"You're not drunk if you can lie on the floor without holding on." Dean Martin

1. Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well-preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, thoroughly used, totally worn out and loudly proclaiming... "f*ck, what a trip

It's better to lose time with friends than to lose friends with time (Portuguese proverb)

Alone we travel faster
Together we travel further
( In an admonishing email from our golf club)

Tomp
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Re: Yeast starter - is it really a brew day? It’s close enough

Post by Tomp » Sun Oct 22, 2017 9:06 am

IPA wrote:
Tomp wrote:
Sun Oct 22, 2017 8:15 am
Symphonies off the excess wort ready for the brew later today. I’ll bring the remainder up to temperature before the brew and then reinvigorate with some of the wort after the brew.Image


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
"Symphonies" Better turn off predictive text :lol: :lol: :lol:
I’ve had worse 🤣🤣🤣


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
It started with kits to save money and now look........!!!

Lots of kit, too many ingredients and not enough time, but a patient wife.... who loves my beer...........

Could be worse :-)

Tomp
Steady Drinker
Posts: 97
Joined: Sat May 27, 2017 8:01 pm

Re: Yeast starter - is it really a brew day? It’s close enough

Post by Tomp » Sun Oct 22, 2017 11:22 am

Ready for a brew then. Tip run complete, dog walked, everything ready.Image


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
It started with kits to save money and now look........!!!

Lots of kit, too many ingredients and not enough time, but a patient wife.... who loves my beer...........

Could be worse :-)

Tomp
Steady Drinker
Posts: 97
Joined: Sat May 27, 2017 8:01 pm

Re: Yeast starter - is it really a brew day? It’s close enough

Post by Tomp » Sun Oct 22, 2017 5:07 pm

And the yeast is ready to pitch.Image


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
It started with kits to save money and now look........!!!

Lots of kit, too many ingredients and not enough time, but a patient wife.... who loves my beer...........

Could be worse :-)

Tomp
Steady Drinker
Posts: 97
Joined: Sat May 27, 2017 8:01 pm

Re: Yeast starter - is it really a brew day? It’s close enough

Post by Tomp » Mon Oct 23, 2017 3:52 pm

I pitched the yeast at about 5:00 and normally, the airlock shows little sign of fermentation until about 18 hours.
This time, the fermentation was vigorous at 7:00 in the morning so better than normal.
The truth will be how long it takes to get to final gravity.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
It started with kits to save money and now look........!!!

Lots of kit, too many ingredients and not enough time, but a patient wife.... who loves my beer...........

Could be worse :-)

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