Starter Problem

[Agnebrew]

I'm having trouble with my starter for a kolsch. I made up a 1500ml starter with maybe a half a pound of DME. This is probably way to much, but I was so excitied to get the brewing process started. I'm using White Labs German Ale/Kolsch WLP029. It is an older vial with best before date of March 10 2009. My intention was to build it up from 1500 ml to 3000 ml. It has been 48 hours, and there is no sign of fermentation. Should I be patient and wait some more or should I go get some newer yeast and start the process over? Thanks. Cheers!

[Brandon]

I would take a gravity reading to see if any fermentation took place. Its easy to miss

[Nyakavt]

I've had really old samples that I kept in the fridge take 5 days to ferment out. You might have started with a smaller starter, say 100 mL, and stepped it up from there if the yeast was mostly dead.

[Agnebrew]

Well patience has paid off. This morning there was signs of fermentation. Next time I will do a much smaller starter and then bump it up. Lesson learned. Thanks for the replies. Cheers!

[MattSF]

are you using a stirplate? keeping the thing at room temperature? did you use a bit of yeast nutrient? all these help a starter, especially the stirplate. But if you don't have one, no worries, just aerate the thing well.

And yeah if you did use about 1/2 lb or 225g of DME, that was too much for 1500ml water. Remember that easy ratio, 10ml water : 1g DME. So next time with the same volume of water, do about 1/3lb DME.

I love doing starters since it gives a bit of the thrill of brew day without a lot of work. Yeah I need to get out more.

[SunkenBier]

are you using a stirplate? keeping the thing at room temperature? did you use a bit of yeast nutrient? all these help a starter, especially the stirplate. But if you don't have one, no worries, just aerate the thing well.

+1


With a starter you should try and aim for a SG of 1.040. If you are after a 1.5L starter after the boil you should be using 5.75 oz of DLE. 8 oz would put you at a SG of 1.055. Cutting back on the DLE will save you some money, yes every penny counts.

Just like in a normal fermentation the aeration for the aerobic period is where you will get the most yeast growth. If you dont have a stir plate, shake it a little so you can keep the yeast in suspension.

[Agnebrew]

I understand that I used too much DME for the amount of liquid. My excitement for beginning of the brewing process over took any thought of measuring. I don't have a stir plate, but I was shaking the flask every time I was by it. The starter is fermenting now, and I think I will still bump it up 3000 ml when it is finished.

It is at room temperature. I also used about 1/8 of teaspoon of yeast nutrient. I think the long lag was more do to higher SG than wanted and older yeast.

Does any one have experience with WLP029? It seems to me like it is more like a lager than an ale yeast.

[MattSF]

Does any one have experience with WLP029? It seems to me like it is more like a lager than an ale yeast.

I have some in the fridge but haven't used it before I know Kolsch yeast is an old JZ favorite..seems to like pitching it for light hybrid beers.

Let us know how it turns out