Let's Make A Starter

There is a lot of conflicting information on the Toobs about starters and when/if you need them. I use them when I have a wort with a gravity over 1050 because all the pitching rate charts say you should pitch more than an activator pack provides.

Here is how I make a starter:

Smack that pack!








Boil 2 cups of water and 1/2 cup of light DME for 10 minutes.








Chill. Keep it covered because your fridge really needs to be cleaned out.







Clean and sanitize all your junk. #2 stopper, thermometer, funnel, scissors, airlock, that bottle you got from your Uncle Rod.







Drink a Flying Dog while continuing to chill.








When the starter wort is chilled to 75 degrees or so, pour it in that bottle you got from your Uncle Rod.







Pitch the yeast into the starter wort.








Shake shake shake your booty.








Airlock and let it ferment for a day or so. Krausen can come and go fast, so you might miss it.










When fermentation slows, or the morning of brew day, throw the starter in the fridge.










Mow the grass, do all your chores, and then brew up your batch.








When you are ready to pitch, you should see a nice big yeast cake at the bottom of that bottle your Uncle Rod gave you. Decant most of the evil starter beer off the cake, shake up what is left and pitch it into your wort.





Enjoy fermentation fireworks.