When & How to start a Wyeast Smack Pack

[Blitzer]

Hey, so I'm going to throw down a Dr Smurto Landlord this weekend. I have hopefully a very newbie question, it is my first time using liquid yeast.

How long before my brew do I smack the wyeast smack pack? Also at what temperature do I keep it at during that time between smacking and pitching?

I read the back of the pack mentions 21-24c though I have also read smacking 24+ hours in advance, would it be fine to leave it at those temps for that long?

Thanks Ya'll!

 

[warra48]

Smack it and leave it at room temperature. It will be fine like that until you do your brew, for at least a week. No need to fret over it.

I smack mine up to a week before a brew, but I also build it up into a starter to increase the volume of my yeast.

 

[Blitzer]

mm yeah no equipment for a starter. I'll smack it at least tomorrow night and leave it at room temp then, brewing on Sunday.

 

[dammag]

I brewed a Dr Smurto's landlord recently and it is a great brew.

I did a 14L batch and pitched the smack pack that I smacked that morning. So about 10 hours smacking to pitching. The smack pack was only 2 weeks old.

I saved some of the slurry in some 300mL water bottles and used these in subsequent brews. The bigger beers with starters. I just make my starters in an old 2L port bottle. Ghetto Erlenmeyer flask.

 

[gap]

If you already have the yeast I would smack it now.

 

[Mclovin]

You only need a 3ltr juice bottle, one small funnel, some gladwrap a rubber band and sanitiser. So easy...

 

[Blitzer]

Smack it tonight you think? I can do that.

Mclovin: So you just make some wort sterilise the bottle (plastic?) add the yeast and leave it at room temp? Do you stir it at all? I always hear people requiring stir plates etc..

 

[gap]

If I just put the starter into a sterilized PET bottle , soft drink bottle, I put. the lid on the bottle and shake it whenever I walk past the bottle.

 

[Ducatiboy stu]

You only need a 3ltr juice bottle, one small funnel, some gladwrap a rubber band and sanitiser. So easy...

Thats all I have ever used for starters.

 

[Ross]

Blitzer,

If the manufacture date is within the last 2 months, smack the pack on Saturday morning for pitching Sunday. No need to stress with making starters.
Just leave at room temp & give it a good shake before opening & pitching.

Cheers Ross

 

[slash22000]

Do you stir it at all? I always hear people requiring stir plates etc..

You don't need a stirplate to make a starter, but you get much better results if you do have one. If you don't have a stir plate, give your starter a good shake/swirl every time you walk past it. It won't be as effective as a stirplate but it will be much more effective than just adding the yeast pack directly.

 

[Ducatiboy stu]

If I just put the starter into a sterilized PET bottle , soft drink bottle, I put. the lid on the bottle and shake it whenever I walk past the bottle.

Yep. Make shure you loosen the cap to allow the CO2 to escape or you will end up with a fire extinguisher.

Make your starter wort about SG 1020

 

[Parks]

Make your starter wort about SG 1020

?

Everything I have ever read says to make your starters 1040

 

[donburke]

?

Everything I have ever read says to make your starters 1040

for a normal gravity beer that is correct, 1.040 starter

for a 1.100 beer use a 1.060 starter

 

[slash22000]

for a 1.100 beer use a 1.060 starter

I thought that starters were recommended to be ~1.040 OG to avoid stressing the yeast? Correct me if I'm wrong.

 

[Ducatiboy stu]

You want 1020. This gives a low alc% which stresses the yeast less especially in storage.

Think of it this way. You get a better starter from Coopers Mild than Coopers Sparkling.

 

[Ducatiboy stu]

I thought that starters were recommended to be ~1.040 OG to avoid stressing the yeast? Correct me if I'm wrong.

Dont forget you are pitching into wort that has O% alc

 

[Ducatiboy stu]

for a normal gravity beer that is correct, 1.040 starter

for a 1.100 beer use a 1.060 starter

It is the amount of yeast you need for big beers, not the alc strength of the starter

 

[Mclovin]

Smack it tonight you think? I can do that.

Mclovin: So you just make some wort sterilise the bottle (plastic?) add the yeast and leave it at room temp? Do you stir it at all? I always hear people requiring stir plates et

For dried yeast I always make a starter, I use LDME and water boiled in a sauspan and chilled in the sink to 21C, then pour it into the bottle with the yeast and stir every so often.

My latest starter bottle is a 3 ltr OJ bottle i have a hole in the screw cap with a grommet and air lock fitted. When not in use I fill the bottle with starsan and store.

The smack packs are more designed to give a professional brewery pitching rate with 19 ltrs of standard ale wort, so batch size is an important factor. No real need to make a starter if you are brewing 19 ltrs.

 

[GalBrew]

There is no need to make a starter with dry yeast either.