Brewing Master

Question:

I really am not interested in doing the harvesting thing right now but I want to make my starters as big as possible.I understand that using a stir plate is the way to go.What are the basic items I need to have? Stir plate,stir bars,flasks — Hydraulic Jack Visit my Web Page http://mywebpages.comcast.net/hydjack/index.htm

Response:

Yeast culturing sounds scarier than it really is.  I have been doing it for about 2 years now and I have on hand 3-4 different yeast strains year round. All you need to invest in are disposable petri dishes and a loop.  I make my own media (yeast grows on it in the petri dish) by mixing dry malt extract with gelatin and boil it in a cup of water and add it to the petri dishes. When the gelatin "sets up" I stick them in the fridge for a few hours.  All you need to do streak out your yeast onto your media and leave at room temp for 3-4 days until you see growth.  I then put them in the fridge until needed (I select a colony and make a few step-up starters).  Mine stay healthy in the fridge for 6-months before I reculture. Yeast is expensive, why not bring your cost per batch down by culturing? Some may argue that yeast can mutate after several recultures.  This is a possibility, but I have never had any problems. Yeast culturing is actually fun [am I a nerd?  :)  ] Cheers

I really am not interested in doing the harvesting thing right now but I

want to make my starters as big as possible.I understand that using a stir plate is the way to go.What are the basic

items I need to have? Stir plate,stir bars,flasks etc…..Also does someone sell what I’m asking for in a package or kit

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – — Hydraulic Jack Visit my Web Page http://mywebpages.comcast.net/hydjack/index.htm

Response:

You can get a 2L erlenmeyer flask, stir plate and bars from www.morebeer.com Use a 2L erlenmeyer flask to make your starter.  Boil 500-1000 ml wort in the flask with the stir bar, cool in an ice bath, shake to aerate and pitch your yeast.  Cover with a rubber stopper and airlock. Then put the erlenmeyer flask on the stir plate.  Whirl away. The hardest thing about a stir plate is convincing yourself its worth the $80.00 or so.  IMO its not, but some people swear by them. – Bill Success lies in achieving the top of the food chain. — Jubal Harshaw, 1904-

I really am not interested in doing the harvesting thing right now but I

want to make my starters as big as possible.I understand that using a stir plate is the way to go.What are the basic

items I need to have? Stir plate,stir bars,flasks etc…..Also does someone sell what I’m asking for in a package or kit

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – — Hydraulic Jack Visit my Web Page http://mywebpages.comcast.net/hydjack/index.htm

Response:

You can get a 2L erlenmeyer flask, stir plate and bars from www.morebeer.com Use a 2L erlenmeyer flask to make your starter.  Boil 500-1000 ml wort in the flask with the stir bar, cool in an ice bath, shake to aerate and pitch your yeast.  Cover with a rubber stopper and airlock.

Nahhh, pressure can a batch of beer… Then put the erlenmeyer flask on the stir plate.  Whirl away. The hardest thing about a stir plate is convincing yourself its worth the $80.00 or so.  IMO its not, but some people swear by them.

I do, I do… I got my stir plate for a six pack of beer.  I use mason jars, and did purchase a stir bar retriever and some extra bars. It would be worth every penny of $80 for what it does for me.  I no longer wait for anything to swell.  I detail it on my starter page… Cheers, Mike www.ipass.net/~mpdixon/homebrew.htm

Response: