Why should you be making a yeast starter? This highly debated subject has many opinions about it. The bottom line is that there is safety in numbers. The more yeast – in general – the better, or safer you’ll be on brewing day. Use common sense, for too much yeast does not make better beer.
Making A Yeast Starter for Liquid Yeast
I always make a yeast starter for liquid yeast and it has worked very well. The lag time is minimal and concern about wild yeast or bacterial contamination is reduced or eliminated.
Dry yeast is dehydrated, resting until it is rehydrated. In the dried state, the yeast are shrunken and their numbers are great.
I don’t generally bother with a starter for dry yeast. They do get a rehydration bath, though. The manufacturers suggest the rehydration bath, as it prepares the yeast for its “dive” into your wort, and reduces lag time. Hey, the faster it starts, the sooner the brew is ready.
Making a Yeast Starter
For most beers, use the Basic or Normal Gravity Starter for beers with a starting gravity of about 1.040 to 1.060.
If 1.060 or greater gravity brew is being made, a Step-Up Starter is best.
Basic or Normal Gravity Yeast Starter
Ingredients:
- ½ cup light DME dry malt extract (Use a light DME as it will not impact the flavor or color much.)
- 2 cups distilled or tap water
- ¼ to ½ teaspoon Yeast Nutrient
Step-Up Yeast Starter – When Needed
Step-Up Starter:
- Start by making a batch of Basic or Normal Gravity Starter for about 1.040. After it’s ready – in 18 to 24 hours, continue:
- Make a second batch that has 50% more DME per water. Use:
- Add the two batches together and let them ferment another 18 to 24 hours. Starters are best used when the yeast is very active.
- Caution: If a starter is allowed to stay warm for too long, bacteria or wild yeast can “invade” your mixture – even if covered – since it has not been sterilized, only sanitized. Use within 24 hours when possible.
- Higher gravity beer requires more yeast, and the yeast needs to be stronger to ferrment the more potent brew.
Beautiful Antique Copper Tank in Dutch Brewery
For Both Types Yeast Starters:
Equipment:
- Boiler or sauce pan with lid
- Spoon
- Measuring cup
- Quart canning or heavy duty glass jar (A lab flask may also be used.)
- Aluminum foil
- Lid for jar
Directions:
- Bring water and DME to a boil in an open saucepan or boiler, stirring briefly to dissolve the DME. Boil for 10 minutes.Note: DME attracts moisture rapidly – it’s hydroscopic – the DME will clump if not resealed very well for storage.ALERT: Boil-overs may occur if there is not enough room to contain them in your pot. Use a larger pot than you may think is needed.You can withdraw pan from heat briefly to control a potential boil-over.
- Be sure and place the lid on the pot as it cools. This keeps out bacteria or wild yeast that may float in on dust.(Dust is in the air and if not locked out – those nasties ride ’em to your brew)
- Place the pot with lid on it, into a sink with cold or ice water. Change water as needed to keep cool.
- Let it cool to room temperature.
- Pour the DME mixture and yeast together into a jar, cover with aluminum foil or lid and shake well. Hold the foil on tightly to prevent spilling, relax the lid (if used), after shaking.Do not use an air lock.It will prevent oxygen from entering your starter.
- Shaking the jar every hour or two will increase the yield of yeast significantly. If you wish to get fancier (more expensive), use a stir plate and lab flask for an even greater yeast count.
- Swirl the yeast and slurry, then pitch (dump or pour) when your wort is transferred (poured, pumped or siphoned) to the primary fermenter.
Here’s a chart for a visual aid. Just make sure and place a lid on the pot when cooling!
Yeast Starter Steps Illustrated
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