Yeast Starter Directions

Yeast Starter Directions

Yeast Starter Directions

Here are some simple and easy to follow instructions on how to make a home brewing yeast starter:

1. Take your packet, pouch or vial  of yeast out of refrigerator and allow to warm to room temperature.  A temperature of between 70F and 80F is ideal.

 
2. Add 1/2 quart and 1/2 cup of DME to a sufficiently sized Erlenmeyer borosilicate glass flask. That mixture will create an approximate original gravity of 1.04. If available and desired, add in a yeast nutrient such as Fermaid K. Allow the DME and water to boil for 10 minutes.
 

3. Remove the flask from the heat source and cover the flask opening with aluminum foil. Place the flask in an ice bath to cool. You can swirl the flask in the ice bath to help the liquid cool more quickly. Remove the flask from the ice bath once it has reached room temperature.

 
4. Sanitize the yeast vial or packet and then pour its contents into the flask. Cover flask with aluminum foil or a sanitized foam stopper. If you are using a stir plate, also add your sanitized stir bar and center it in the flask.

5. Place the flask somewhere that is consistently warm, between 68F and 80F.  Wrap the flask in a towel to shield it from sun light if needed. Swirl your flask as often as possible or use a magnetic stir plate to help maximize cell growth.

6. If desired, after 24 hours, you can chill the starter overnight in the refrigerator allowing the yeast to flocculate.  You may then pour the starter solution off of the yeast bed so that only the yeast will be pitched.

7. Utilize the yeast started within 12 to 48 hours of creating it.

Flasks, stir plates, yeast and yeast supplies can be purchased here!