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Yeast starter - is it really a brew day? It’s close enough
Posted: Fri Oct 20, 2017 9:45 am
by Tomp
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:
Re: Yeast starter - is it really a brew day? It’s close enough
Posted: Fri Oct 20, 2017 5:51 pm
by orlando
Does it heat as well?
Re: Yeast starter - is it really a brew day? It’s close enough
Posted: Fri Oct 20, 2017 6:09 pm
by Tomp
2 litres of starter so 200g of light spray malt.
Boiled for about 5 minutes then cooled.
Re: Yeast starter - is it really a brew day? It’s close enough
Posted: Fri Oct 20, 2017 6:56 pm
by Tomp
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
Re: Yeast starter - is it really a brew day? It’s close enough
Posted: Fri Oct 20, 2017 7:02 pm
by McMullan
You're reinventing the 'wheel' mate.
Re: Yeast starter - is it really a brew day? It’s close enough
Posted: Fri Oct 20, 2017 10:36 pm
by Tomp
And the yeast is in.
Running at about 26 degreees. Set for 18 hours on a fairly low speed ready for brew day Sunday.
Re: Yeast starter - is it really a brew day? It’s close enough
Posted: Fri Oct 20, 2017 10:37 pm
by Tomp
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.
Re: Yeast starter - is it really a brew day? It’s close enough
Posted: Sat Oct 21, 2017 6:11 am
by Tomp
Looking good. Temperature nice and stable at about 25.
Re: Yeast starter - is it really a brew day? It’s close enough
Posted: Sun Oct 22, 2017 8:09 am
by Tomp
Yeast has settled out nicely. A night in the fridge to precipitate all that is possible looks like I’ve achieved a good result.
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Re: Yeast starter - is it really a brew day? It’s close enough
Posted: Sun Oct 22, 2017 8:15 am
by Tomp
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.
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Re: Yeast starter - is it really a brew day? It’s close enough
Posted: Sun Oct 22, 2017 9:01 am
by IPA
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.
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"Symphonies" Better turn off predictive text
Re: Yeast starter - is it really a brew day? It’s close enough
Posted: Sun Oct 22, 2017 9:06 am
by Tomp
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.
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"Symphonies" Better turn off predictive text
I’ve had worse
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Re: Yeast starter - is it really a brew day? It’s close enough
Posted: Sun Oct 22, 2017 11:22 am
by Tomp
Ready for a brew then. Tip run complete, dog walked, everything ready.
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Re: Yeast starter - is it really a brew day? It’s close enough
Posted: Sun Oct 22, 2017 5:07 pm
by Tomp
And the yeast is ready to pitch.
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Re: Yeast starter - is it really a brew day? It’s close enough
Posted: Mon Oct 23, 2017 3:52 pm
by Tomp
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.
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