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Yeast starter question

PostPosted: Sun Aug 06, 2017 11:13 am
by neservice
Hi all, i am attempting my first ever batch of cider, i have some WLP775 liquid yeast to do the job but have a question about making the starter.

I am going to make a large starter of 1.5lt, i have starter on the stir plate at the moment and will run it for 36 hours but just had a thought, the room temp is 15c at the moment and get slower during the night, will this be an issue for the starter?

Re: Yeast starter question

PostPosted: Sun Aug 06, 2017 11:39 am
by bluc
Depends on temp range of the yeast. If within spec it will work fine. I am not experienced with fancy yeast. I am sure with a google search you can find the best temp range..

Re: Yeast starter question

PostPosted: Sun Aug 06, 2017 11:52 am
by copperhead road
Is a yeast starter the same as yeast bomb ? Still trying to work out all the different terms and lingo....

Re: Yeast starter question

PostPosted: Sun Aug 06, 2017 11:56 am
by wynnum1
Too cold have read that starter can be at warmer temperature then ferment without effecting flavor would be better to have at 25 Celsius constant .
What temperature is it at night.

Re: Yeast starter question

PostPosted: Sun Aug 06, 2017 12:07 pm
by bluc
Copperhead not really. A yeast bomb is designed to process a wash as fast as possible. While a yeast starter also builds up the yeast population it is more designed so a little bit of yeast can ferment a larger wash. Also to bring the yeast population up to a % for ideal fermentaion so the yeast does not produce off flavours. At least thats my understanding..

Re: Yeast starter question

PostPosted: Sun Aug 06, 2017 12:13 pm
by bluc
Ideal temp range 20c to 23.889. I think this would be a fairly picky yeast. And a ferment best done in a controlled enviroment like a temp controlled fridge or similar. I would try to keep the starter within the ideal temp range also.. but as wynum said maybe it wont make difference.
If it doesnt turn out you can always distill it. Take notes so you know whats what next time..

Re: Yeast starter question

PostPosted: Sun Aug 06, 2017 12:58 pm
by neservice
bluc wrote:Depends on temp range of the yeast. If within spec it will work fine. I am not experienced with fancy yeast. I am sure with a google search you can find the best temp range..

The ideal fermentation range is 20c to 24c

Re: Yeast starter question

PostPosted: Sun Aug 06, 2017 12:59 pm
by neservice
copperhead road wrote:Is a yeast starter the same as yeast bomb ? Still trying to work out all the different terms and lingo....

Man i am new to this also, it sounds like it could be the same

Re: Yeast starter question

PostPosted: Sun Aug 06, 2017 1:01 pm
by neservice
wynnum1 wrote:Too cold have read that starter can be at warmer temperature then ferment without effecting flavor would be better to have at 25 Celsius constant .
What temperature is it at night.

Yeah i dont have anywhere to keep it that warm

Re: Yeast starter question

PostPosted: Sun Aug 06, 2017 1:49 pm
by hillzabilly
Just like ta point out some magnetic stirrers also come with temp controlled plate for just this situation,they are a little more expensive but ifn ya gonna use it a lot or come from a colder climate it would be well worth it.cheers hillzabilly ;-)

Re: Yeast starter question

PostPosted: Sun Aug 06, 2017 1:52 pm
by neservice
hillzabilly wrote:Just like ta point out some magnetic stirrers also come with temp controlled plate for just this situation,they are a little more expensive but ifn ya gonna use it a lot or come from a colder climate it would be well worth it.cheers hillzabilly ;-)

Yeah the Kegking model does come with heating but not controlled, i was going to see if a STC-1000 temp controller could be retrofitted to it

Re: Yeast starter question

PostPosted: Sun Aug 06, 2017 2:19 pm
by hillzabilly
They make some quite small aquarium heaters these days ,if you put ya flask in a slightly bigger container with water and the heater or hang the heater directly into the flask ,or you could try just putting a small lamp close by,happy yeast =happy stiller.cheers hillzabilly :handgestures-thumbupleft:

Re: Yeast starter question

PostPosted: Sun Aug 06, 2017 2:21 pm
by orcy
Why do you need a starter? If the sg is under 1075 and the volume under 50 litres i wouldnt bother. Just let the sachet warm up for a few hours and pitch it.


I do al my fermenting in a modified chest freezer. Runs at 20c all the time, unless im doing spirit washes. They like to run a bit hotter

Re: Yeast starter question

PostPosted: Sun Aug 06, 2017 2:35 pm
by neservice
orcy wrote:Why do you need a starter? If the sg is under 1075 and the volume under 50 litres i wouldnt bother. Just let the sachet warm up for a few hours and pitch it.


I do al my fermenting in a modified chest freezer. Runs at 20c all the time, unless im doing spirit washes. They like to run a bit hotter


Hi, the 2 reasons i used a starter, is that all the threads i read on using liquid yeast mentioned a starter so i assumed it was necessary, secondly i made a 1.5lt starter so i could take half and refrigerate it for later use.

I have a fermentation fridge but there is a 60 liter wash in there at the moment, had i thought about it i would have waited until that was finished

Re: Yeast starter question

PostPosted: Sun Aug 06, 2017 2:37 pm
by orcy
You could leave it in a coke bottle with an airlock in your ferment fridge. It definitely needs to be kept warm

Re: Yeast starter question

PostPosted: Sun Aug 06, 2017 3:38 pm
by neservice
hillzabilly wrote:They make some quite small aquarium heaters these days ,if you put ya flask in a slightly bigger container with water and the heater or hang the heater directly into the flask ,or you could try just putting a small lamp close by,happy yeast =happy stiller.cheers hillzabilly :handgestures-thumbupleft:


Great idea, if i dont have any luck retrofitting a controller i will look into that

Re: Yeast starter question

PostPosted: Sun Aug 06, 2017 9:12 pm
by wynnum1
With the aquarium heaters you can put in a separate container and enclosed cupboard or insulated box and that will warm up the starter.

Re: Yeast starter question

PostPosted: Tue Aug 08, 2017 9:58 pm
by Kenster
go to the pet shop and get a heater... very useful even to keep your ferments on temp. I do 70 lit ferments and a $10-00 heater keeps it very happy.Fill a bucket with water, drop in heater and float your coke bottle/starter in it... simple.(they have adjustable temps on the side )