Even with the advent of pitchable yeast packets and vials, a yeast starter is an excellent way to get quick and vigorous fermentation. Here’s how to make one using that empty growler you’ve been meaning to fill with a local brew.
Ingredients
- 1 cup light DME (dry malt extract)
- 1/4 tablespoon of yeast nutrient
- Yeast – your choice
Equipment
- medium-large pot
- 64 oz. growler bottle or pyrex flask
- #5 rubber stopper
- Air lock
- sanitizer
- something to stir with – no porous
Process
- Sanitize your fermenting vessel and airlock
- Bring 1 liter of water (1 quart) of water to a boil. Add
DME and yeast nutrients, stir in and watch for boil-overs. Boil for ~10 minutes - Cool wort to 80F and transfer to your fermenting vessel. I’m using a 64 oz. growler
- Aerate the wort well. If you have a bottle of O2, you know what to do
- Pitch the yeast, lightly agitate the vessel, and cap with the airlock
- Let the yeasties ferment
Fermentation will probably start overnight, and you can use it as soon as yeast has started settling on the bottom of the vessel. Most people make a starter 2 days before brewing. Good luck.