Wyeast 1469

Linalmeemow said:

With the relatively low OG I'd expect from a TT Landlord I wouldn't imagine you'd absolutely have to make a starter as there should be enough cells in the smackpack to deal with the fermentables. Post-fermentation there'll be more than enough viable yeast left to do 2-3 new brews.

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private4587 said:

I have used the Calculator Homebrew Dad's Yeast Starter Calculator v1.1
and it states that shaking the starter as oppose to stir plate i would need to to do a two step starter. MyQul you say you use a demijohn as a starter flask, does this work Ok on a stir plate? Is there any other way to harvest yeast although i suppose i still need the original yeast count as stated in the calculator.

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MyQul said:

I dont use a stir plate, just shake the DJ at least 4 times a day. 've seen quite a lot of different ways to harvest yeast. I mentioned overbuilding which I use. Top cropping is a good one (I PMed you a link to a method similar to top cropping). What exactly are you trying to achieve if overbuilding doesnt suit your purpose?

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private4587 said:

I am trying to overbuild but without having a stir plate the calculator is staying that i need to do a two step starter and i thought that this might be costly?
I don't mind having a go at building starter but haven't got a suitable flask. Is the way you do overbuilding involve multiple steps for the starter?

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MyQul said:

I do multiple steps if my yeast has been in the fridge for more than a month or so. If you use a fresh smak pak in a 2L starter you shouldnt need multiple step ups(unless the OG is over 1.060) . 1.5L can go in the wort and 500ml can be used for the overbuild. You can keep the overbuild in the fridge and harvest from the bottom of the FV for three sucessive brew if the brews are done within 2-3 weeks of each other by just harversting some trub in a jar then chucking it into the next brew. No need for a starter (that's what I do).
Then the 500ml overbuild will have been in the fridge for some time so will probably need 2x2L starters step ups to make sure there enough cells.

I it's not costly to do 2x2L step up (remember you've already got 3 brews out of the smak pak). I just go to holland and barratt and buy malt extract for �£2.69 and usually you can get buy one get one half price. You need 220ml for a 2L starter and the jar has 454g in it so you can get 2 starter out of a jar.

As I've mentioned you can use a DJ or a 5L water bottle without a stir plate. A stir plate will get you more cells but you dont HAVE to have one

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private4587 said:

Taking note that i have used this calculator (Homebrew Dad's Yeast Starter Calculator v1.1 and that my OG is 1.042 the cal shows that if i am shaking as opposed to stir plate then the smack pac alone will not give me enough cells also even producing a 2l starter will not produce enough hence my question about stepped starters. That is if I am using the cal correctly

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MyQul said:

A smak pak is should be enough cells for a 23L brew if it's fresh. Putting it in a starter should give you loads more cells then you need

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MyQul said:

A smak pak has 100bl cell in it

A wort of 1.042 need 178bl cells

Putting the smak pak in a 2L starter and manually shaking gives you 229 bl cells

If you want a 100bl cells overbuild you need to do a second step up of 2L which results in 361bl cells

(this is all according to the calc)

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johnnyboy1965 said:

Very, very debatable. JMHO you dont want to make a "starter". You just need to prove the viability of the yeast...ie is it alive. We cannot count yeast cells its impossible, all we need to know is if its alive.

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johnnyboy1965 said:

Your calculations are great, providing that you can gaurentee (sp) that there are 1 bl viable cells in th pack.

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MyQul said:

Ill give you a example.........certain brewing software recommends that your pitching yeast has 2/3/4/1000000 yeast cells. This is great, just one small question...How do you measure yeast cells?

These are two reasons why personally I dont bother with yeast calculators as the calculators cant take into account variables like this into account. I just go by experience, trying not to underpitch and not concerning myself if I overpitch as it isnt much of a problem at the HB level

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