Yeast starters offer higher cell counts at the time the yeast is pitched, leading to faster, healthier fermentations and better tasting beer!
You may be wondering how to make a yeast starter. Well, lucky for you this kit contains everything you need for making your own yeast starter right out of the box, including step-by-step instructions!
This is the most common size used to make yeast starters using liquid yeast, great for higher alcohol beer and cold fermented lagers.
In the lab world, these flasks are known as "Student Grade," meaning there may be some cosmetic flaws in the glass, and the volume measurements are approximate due to variations in the thickness of the glass walls of the flask. This makes it a great flask for making yeast starters--at a great price!
We do not recommend the use of an electric element with these flasks. If this cannot be avoided, we suggest using a larger pot as a hot water bath on the stove.
For many years, I had bad luck at getting attenuation down into "single digits" (1.009 or lower). Mine were usually stuck at 1.014, 1.012, 1.018 for bigger beers, but never showing a healthy fermentation. Now after having done 4 batches using starters, every single one has had greater attenuation than I've ever had in the 10 years prior. Yeast cakes seem more solid and compressed, residual sugar is less. Pretty much everything is just better now.
Cons: More a nit-pick than a "con". The volume graduations on the flask are way off. Thankfully, the 2L flask actually has a volume considerably larger than 2L, which is nice. For instance, my flask at the 1600ml line is actually a full 2L. If you use a scale and weigh the water you can see how far off they really are. Maybe even calibrate with a paint marker and new lines. It's not a big deal, it's not like I'm using it for measuring. But, just be forewarned the volume lines are far enough off that you do not want to measure anything important in this. I boil starters 15 minutes and if I start with the flask at 2L and boil that long I get about 2L at the end after 20% boil off.
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March 31, 2023
Zack M
Rated 5 out of 5
Great way to build yeast starters
Good quality flask and send to work well. Wish they offered an advance kit that included the foam stopper and a sitting magnet.
Realize with only comes with 8 oz of DME so you'll need more after making a couple starters.
This is my first yeast starter kit and I have been pleased with the quality of product that I received. I do recommend this product and also you need to find a good yeast calculator online that will give you specific measurements.
I follow the instructions as written except i boil the ingredients in a different pot then pore the boiling wort into the sanitized glass container to prevent boil over.
I'm a first-time brewer who did a ot of research beforehand. I used this kit with a liquid yeast pack and WOW did it take off. I did not experience any boil over or foaming , and I did not use a stir plate. All is used was the kit, the packet, and filtered water. I had read that there would be little sign of yeast activity, but after 48 hours my starter was happily bubbling away. I brewed today and checked my fermentasaurus after a few hours and found it pressurized to the limit already. I thought I had a day to make my spunding valve, but it became a priority. This kit is your foray into understanding and manipulating yeast.
I pitched my first starter last night, and this afternoon I can already say I will never direct pitch yeast again! The last batch I brewed (direct pitch) had a lag time of over 24 hours. With the starter, I had a fully active fermentation in less than 12, and the bubbling from my blow off has never been more vigorous. I wish I had purchased a yeast starter kit much sooner, as I'm sure I could have been getting way better results when I was still extract brewing.
However, the instructions for making the starter could be better. The instructions and included DME are for making a 2L starter..... in a 2L flask. This is probably ok if you boil the starter wort in a pot and then transfer to the flask, but the instructions led me to believe I could do the boil in the flask directly on my gas range. Having tried it, I honestly can't imagine how you can bring 2L of starter wort to boil in a 2L flask and NOT have a boil over. Luckily I saw it coming and was able to safely move the flask to the sink just before it boiled over, narrowly avoiding what would have been an incredible mess. I was left with about 1600ml after the boil over, moved it back to the flame and was able to keep it boiling without any other issues. So maybe this kit should be sold with enough DME to make a 1600ml starter instead of 2L, or the instructions should encourage you to boil the starter wort separately. Personally, I wanted to boil inside the flask to be sure it was completely sterilized. Also be aware that although you're supposed to use the entire package of DME you are NOT supposed to use the entire packet of yeast nutrient. Whoops! When I realized what I'd done I called down to MoreBeer and the customer service rep assured me that the starter would come out fine, but I should probably put the starter in the fridge the night before brew day and decant it before pitching. Thank you MoreBeer for having great advice and knowledge that's only a phone call away!
After boiling for 15 minutes I topped the flask with foil and transferred to ice bath, trust in the borosilicate glass! Having the wort in the flask at this stage is great because you can easily pick it up (with oven mitt) and swirl the wort every few minutes to help with the heat exchange and cool the wort faster, all the while keeping it covered and protected from outside contaminates. Once it was cooled to room temp I pitched the yeast and put it on my stir plate. Definitely recommend investing in a magnetic stir plate. So easy to use, set it and forget it.
After 24 hours on the plate and 24 hours resting, I had a nice big yeast cake at the bottom of my flask. Put it in the fridge the night before brew day, decanted, and pitched. Hands down the best upgrade I've made to my brewing kit. Stop waiting and start making starters!
I am still relatively new to homebrewing (about 6 batches), and just switched to liquid yeast for my last couple batches. I was noticing a lot of caramel flavor in the beers, likely from underutilized sugars. My gravities seemed to be right, but I felt that I must be underpitching my yeast. I got this kit along with the oxygenation kit, and the fermentation on my last batch was well beyond any of my prior beers. In fairness, it was probably overpitched this time. I made a 1000ml starter, and was not sure if I had healthy yeast or not. I used an airlock, and while there was activity in the flask and bubbles when I swirled it, I never saw it bubble like it does on a carboy. After a couple days, I dumped off the fermented liquid and repitched in a new batch of wort. This time the starter went crazy. It's hard to say if the more active fermentation is more due to a fully oxygenated wort, or the increased cell count from the starter, but it's the first time that I have had an airlock filled with yeast. My batch yielded about 4-1/2 gallons in a 7 gallon Fermonster and the krausen filled all the headspace and then some. Hopefully overpitching won't ruin the batch, but I know I won't have to worry about underpitching again. My only gripe is that I wish it had more volume markings. There is not a marker for 1000ml, and guessing where it should be given the conical shape of the flask is a crapshoot, so I'll have to do it myself.
I typically make 1200ml starters (10g/100ml) and this thing is perfect. I have used it dozens of times and went straight from my gas burner on my stove to the ice bath in my sink. Do not use on an electric element type burner.
Funny story and a warning to those who may have yet to experience this: I was attempting to sterilize my stir bar during the last 2 minutes of my boil inside my flask. Let's just say that is NOT a good idea!!! The moment I slid my stir bar into the flask down the side, it erupted into a cone of boiling wort all over my vent hood, stove and floor. It was hilarious since I managed not to get burnt. What a mess!!! You have been warned!
If you're making a lager for the first time you are likloey to under pitch. You will need this starter kit to make sure you are pitching enough. I highly recommend it.
Nice to have but consider a 5000 mL over a 2000 mL. Best Price on the Net !
I enjoy being able to add direct heat (gas stove) to my erlenmeyer and quickly cool in an ice water bath with no worries. Fastest way to get your yeast starter going. I only regret I did not get a 5000 mL size. MrMalty.com suggest I use a 3000 ml starter with my aged Wyeast smack pack. I need to at least buy a second 2000 mL sized erlenmeyer to brew beers over 1.060 OG with a 3 month old yeast packet. Might be better to have two 2000 mL flask if you want to cill the starter in a refrigerator to flocculate the yeast quicker or store your starter a couple extra days. The two 2000 mL size flasks will fit better in the refrigerator next to the milk jug.
You're really doing your beer a dis-service by not making a starter. This will ensure you have enough healthy yeast to chew through the fermentable sugars and make great beer. This kit is a great place to start for yeast starters...just pair it with a stir plate and you're all set.
I'm happy that I finally broke down and purchased this kit. The 2 batches I have brewed since using a starter have had a much more vigorous fermentation. I like the fact that I now have a the ability to make starters reusing my yeast. I'm cheap, and enjoy pinching every penny I can.
Pitching the right amount of healthy, hungry yeast cells made a huge difference in the quality of my beer. The 2000 ml flask is more than large enough for most of the styles I like to brew. I typically only need an 800 ml starter for my pale ale (1.050 SG), but I'm glad to have the extra room when I brew something stronger.
This kit makes it easy to get started making starters.
Starters are a must when brewing. It's best to cut down on the lag time before the yeast kicks into gear. This beginner kit is a great price and the flask is the perfect size for most 5 gal batch starters. It may be a little on the small side for some lager starters but great for most all ale batches. Grab a stir plate while you're at it to give the little guys a hand.
Making a starter before pitching yeast is about the most important thing a home brewer can do to ensure healthy fermentation (sanitation and temp control are the other important facets). The Erlenmeyer flask make the starter process really easy b/c you can heat and cool all in the same device. Highly recommended.
Making starters with this kit is incredibly easy. The 2L Erlenmeyer flask is the key. I boil DME, a little yeast nutrient and a hop pellet (or two) on the stove, right in the flask. Cover with sanitized foil. Allow to cool. Pitch yeast... It's hard to imagine an easier process.
I have recently discovered the advantages of using a yeast starter and I will never go back to direct pitch again. Fermentation starts quicker, works harder and produces great beers. Learning how to do it is easy and you won't be disappointed with the results. Put it on a magnetitic stir plate for best results. Don't fill more than 1750ml.
It's nice to get everything you need all in one kit. The flask is a nice size to handle larger starters but I usually stick to around 1000 ml for most 5 gal batches.
This kit makes it really easy to get "started" making yeast starters. It has everything you need, and the info to get you going. After that you know what you need, and how to do it.
I ordered this after finding how improved my fermentation went after making a starter. My first attempt though I used a small container. This is just the right size for a five gallon batch.
This kit contains a flask that should last years. It's heavy duty and will take a bit more bumping around that those available elsewhere. Great gear at a great price.
This is one of the best brewing investments I have made. This kit has saved me tons of money on yeast. You can reuse the yeast over and over (as long as you keep it sterile) and you don't have to spend several dollars on yeast for each brew if you use this kit and save some yeast for the next batch.
Used for the first time with a new Stout and the results were startling. Fermentation took off with in three hours. Bought the 2000mL even though I planned to only make a 1000mL starter and was grateful for the additional volume. Flask fits nicely on the stove burners and gave some extra volume for the boil. Made a starter 36 hours before brew and swirled by hand as often as possible (no stir plate yet). Yeast took off quickly and vigorously within hours. Recommend highly. Will add a stir plate eventually but the results without were still impressive.
There is absolutely nothing wrong with the materials in this kit.
However, the instructions for adding 2 cups of DME to 1800mL of water (even with 15 minutes of boil time) are silly. That is too much volume for the 2L flask. The krausen from EVERY starter I made following these instructions filled the flask and leaked out the top making a mess (I use a sanitized aluminum foil top). So I suggest either make a smaller amount of wort or attach a blow-off tube.
If you make 1500-2000ml starters use a bigger flask
A 3000 or 5000 ml flask will greatly reduce boil over for a 2000ml starter and make it overall easier, I never use my 2000ml flasks for starters larger than 1200 ml anymore. Seems like a 2000ml kit name implies it is suited for making a 2000 ml starter with it, and that is not so with a 2000ml flask in my opinion.
The only problem with larger flasks is that some stir plates do not deal with them very well.
I don't know why I never did this before. Yes I do I was ignorant. I use these to make starters and I also use these to make huge yeast banks. I simply take my yeast and make my starter. Even if I don't use the yeast for a couple of weeks. I make the yeast and then dump portions into preform soda bottles. Then I make my starters again when I have my brew day. Its awesome!!
This really changed my attenuation and efficiency. I just did an IPA and the yeast had my wort fermenting in just over 3 hours from pitching. It was a drastic change from the 24 hours it took for my previous beers before using a yeast starter.