Seeking homebrew guidance... - Page 2

potlimit · 10-12-2010, 09:40 AM

Wow, excellent advice guys, keep it coming.

Just got the Palmer "How To Brew" book in yesterday and finished about a third of it... great stuff.

potlimit · 10-21-2010, 12:27 PM

Okay, so I've read "How to Brew," lived on homebrewtalk for the last two weeks (total hours reading threads > total hours spent sleeping), and got what I'm sure is everything I need and then some.

I really only have one question that's still kind of bothering me... Yeast pitching. How many of you use starters, and would you say this is the best way to go? I only ask because (as everything I've read describing it states) it's basically brewing a small beer, and I'm trying to keep down the number of variables that can cause me problems.

So, what say you on the starter?

kaisersozei · 10-21-2010, 12:53 PM

I usually use a starter, and always do if the OG > 1.050. The only time I haven't done this recently is when I used Nottingham dry yeast for a pale/blond ale--just sprinkled it over the top of the wort, and that stuff took off in about 8 hours!

But that's just me. If you are using White Labs or other liquid yeast, you can always just pitch it directly into the fermenter and wait. I know a lot of guys go this route and have great results, even if it takes a little while to get fermentation going.

St. Lou Stu · 10-21-2010, 08:46 PM

I've never used a starter and my latest lager was my slowest start at 30 hours.
I usually use liquid yeast though. My Imperial stout took off in 6-8 hours at 1.09something with an activator pack and oxygenation.
I alway say I am a lucky SOB though.

BeerAdvocate · 10-23-2010, 11:03 AM

I never use a starter for dry yeast or whitelabs, but I use a starter for the wyeast smack pouchs

potlimit · 10-23-2010, 11:08 AM

Thanks again guys, decided to just re-hydrate. Was gonna get started today but I didn't feel I prepped enough, so it's gonna be tomorrow morning (trying to be anal about checklists as to avoid any unnecessary screw ups).

10-23-2010, 11:35 AM

תמיד לשטוף את התחתונים שלך, לנקות מאחורי האוזניים
Oh, wait... thats Hebrew guidance

potlimit · 10-23-2010, 12:16 PM

כל עצה תתקבל בברכה

10-23-2010, 12:25 PM

http://www.homebrewtalk.com/

Great forum with great people always ready to help.

10-12-2010, 09:40 AM	#1
potlimit Still Watching My Back Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: LA/NY Posts: 131 Trading: (7)	Re: Seeking homebrew guidance... Wow, excellent advice guys, keep it coming. Just got the Palmer "How To Brew" book in yesterday and finished about a third of it... great stuff.

10-21-2010, 12:27 PM	#2
potlimit Still Watching My Back Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: LA/NY Posts: 131 Trading: (7)	Re: Seeking homebrew guidance... Okay, so I've read "How to Brew," lived on homebrewtalk for the last two weeks (total hours reading threads > total hours spent sleeping), and got what I'm sure is everything I need and then some. I really only have one question that's still kind of bothering me... Yeast pitching. How many of you use starters, and would you say this is the best way to go? I only ask because (as everything I've read describing it states) it's basically brewing a small beer, and I'm trying to keep down the number of variables that can cause me problems. So, what say you on the starter?

10-21-2010, 12:53 PM	#3
kaisersozei The Homebrew Hammer Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Gerard Location: Midlothian, VA Posts: 3,183 Trading: (40)	Re: Seeking homebrew guidance... I usually use a starter, and always do if the OG > 1.050. The only time I haven't done this recently is when I used Nottingham dry yeast for a pale/blond ale--just sprinkled it over the top of the wort, and that stuff took off in about 8 hours! But that's just me. If you are using White Labs or other liquid yeast, you can always just pitch it directly into the fermenter and wait. I know a lot of guys go this route and have great results, even if it takes a little while to get fermentation going. __________________

10-21-2010, 08:46 PM	#4
St. Lou Stu Have My Own Room Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Tim Location: Belleville, IL (St. Louis) Posts: 2,304 Trading: (21)	Re: Seeking homebrew guidance... I've never used a starter and my latest lager was my slowest start at 30 hours. I usually use liquid yeast though. My Imperial stout took off in 6-8 hours at 1.09something with an activator pack and oxygenation. I alway say I am a lucky SOB though. __________________ Pretending to play golf since 1989

10-23-2010, 11:03 AM	#5
BeerAdvocate BeerHunter Join Date: Mar 2009 First Name: Travis Location: Topeka, KS Posts: 1,912 Trading: (45)	Re: Seeking homebrew guidance... I never use a starter for dry yeast or whitelabs, but I use a starter for the wyeast smack pouchs __________________ *I Brew the Beer I Drink*

10-23-2010, 11:08 AM	#6
potlimit Still Watching My Back Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: LA/NY Posts: 131 Trading: (7)	Re: Seeking homebrew guidance... Thanks again guys, decided to just re-hydrate. Was gonna get started today but I didn't feel I prepped enough, so it's gonna be tomorrow morning (trying to be anal about checklists as to avoid any unnecessary screw ups).

10-23-2010, 11:35 AM	#7
Nefari0us Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Seeking homebrew guidance... תמיד לשטוף את התחתונים שלך, לנקות מאחורי האוזניים Oh, wait... thats Hebrew guidance

10-23-2010, 12:16 PM	#8
potlimit Still Watching My Back Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: LA/NY Posts: 131 Trading: (7)	Re: Seeking homebrew guidance... כל עצה תתקבל בברכה

10-23-2010, 12:25 PM	#9
BluesGuy Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Seeking homebrew guidance... http://www.homebrewtalk.com/ Great forum with great people always ready to help.