Brewer’s Cache

Creating a yeast starter is a simple thing you can do to improve the quality of your homebrew.  If you use dry yeast, creating a starter is important. If you use liquid yeast, creating a starter is critical.  Creating a starter will increase your cell count and help keep from stressing your yeast when you pitch.

To create a starter, boil one pint of water with 1/2 light dry malt extract for 10 minutes.  You can add a very small quantity of hops if you like.   All the while, sanitize a jar or other vessel and the yeast vile.  Cool the wort to pitching temperature, about 75 degrees.  When cool, add the wort to the sanitized vessel and then add your yeast.   If the vessel is of the appropriate size, affix an airlock.  If not,  take some sanitized aluminum foil and cover the vessel’s opening.  Hold the starter at the same temperature that your recipe requires for the primary fermentation.

The starter is ready for use when the yeast is at is peak activity, when you see a high kraeusen.

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