Making a starter (WLP830)

Mashtun

I'm going to make my first all grain batch in the coming week and the yeast I'll be using is WLP830. Just wondering could anybody give me a few pointers on making a starter that I'll be pitching to a five gallon batch?

mrtickel

Hi mashtun

Here is a video about how to make a yeast starter

http://billybrew.com/how-to-make-a-yeast-starter

stimpson

Funnily enough, I made my first starter last night. I normally just pitch straight from the packet, but I decided to try washing my yeast just for fun so I was advised to make a starter so I can tell if there is an infection before spoiling a whole batch.

I made the wort with 100g of brown sugar (I'd no DME handy) and 1 litre of water boiled for 15 minutes, with a lid on the pot. Then I put the pot in a sink of cold water for about 1/2 hour to cool it down. I didn't use a thermometer - I just waited until the pot was no longer warm to the touch. I then poured the liquid off my washed yeast that had been sitting in a sanatised jar in the fridge. I added about 200ml of wort and put the lid back on and gave it a good shake to suspend the yeast. This was then poured into a sanatised demijohn (using a sanatised funnel) and I added the remaining wort. I then covered the top with clingfilm and gave it a good shake to aerate. A sanatised stopper with airlock was put on top and it was left in a nice warm spot. I checked it this morning and it was slowly bubbling. I plan to give it about 48 hours and then divide it between 2 batches of cider.

mrtickel

I have a cider on the go and it in the botlle the last 7 months and i took a taste the other day and it tasted good not just clear enough yet but tasted good

stimpson

mrtickel wrote: »

I have a cider on the go and it in the botlle the last 7 months and i took a taste the other day and it tasted good not just clear enough yet but tasted good

In the bottle for 7 months?? I'm not sure mine will last 7 weeks. I bottled it last Thursday and it tasted like dry apple juice, not at all harsh and not too dry. It certainly didn't taste like it was 8%. I'm not too worried about it clearing - I'd just like a bit of sparkle to it.

The plan now is to keep a couple of demijohns of the stuff on the go so I don't run out and I get a chance to age some of it.

mrtickel

I made mine from apple juice from tesco just for an experment and i never use Pectolase
Which i should have it would have cleared quicker but its coming on good i wanted to make it as cheap as i could and i used empty 5l bottles of water to ferment in just mod the lid for the airlock.;)

Mashtun

Got it made anyhow gents, happy days:D cheers for links sirtickel