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Quote from: ipaguy on January 15, 2011, 10:27:48 amIt seems that a lot of folks are hesitant to make starters when first getting started, but they really shouldn't be. You can put together a top-of-the-line setup for 2 liter starters for under $20. That pays for itself pretty quickly vs. $5 - $6 each for extra smack packs or vials. If you're not using the Mr. Malty calculator, a general rule of thumb is that you should be using 2 smack-packs or vials for ales with OGs over 1.060, and double everything for lagers.What goes into your top of the line setup for starters for under $20? I don't see how you get there for that little. Granted you don't need to spend $100, but $20 seems low.
It seems that a lot of folks are hesitant to make starters when first getting started, but they really shouldn't be. You can put together a top-of-the-line setup for 2 liter starters for under $20. That pays for itself pretty quickly vs. $5 - $6 each for extra smack packs or vials. If you're not using the Mr. Malty calculator, a general rule of thumb is that you should be using 2 smack-packs or vials for ales with OGs over 1.060, and double everything for lagers.
Quote from: tschmidlin on January 15, 2011, 11:46:14 pmQuote from: ipaguy on January 15, 2011, 10:27:48 amIt seems that a lot of folks are hesitant to make starters when first getting started, but they really shouldn't be. You can put together a top-of-the-line setup for 2 liter starters for under $20. That pays for itself pretty quickly vs. $5 - $6 each for extra smack packs or vials. If you're not using the Mr. Malty calculator, a general rule of thumb is that you should be using 2 smack-packs or vials for ales with OGs over 1.060, and double everything for lagers.What goes into your top of the line setup for starters for under $20? I don't see how you get there for that little. Granted you don't need to spend $100, but $20 seems low.Maybe 'top-of-the-line' was a little too strong a phrase. I certainly didn't include a stir plate! However, you can get a good new 2 liter Erlenmeyer flask for $18. Aluminum foil works, but I use the foam plugs (around $1 -$2). I didn't include cost of DME or yeast nutrient as 'equipment', as I consider them as supplies. Main point is that making starters is neither difficult nor expensive.
I have made starters in a 1-gallon growler. If you're not using a stir plate, wouldn't almost any glass container work ok?
it has a lot more grains to steep than my last kit did. Would I still steep 6 lbs of grains with 1 1/2 gallons of water? or would I add more water? The last kit I used had less than a pound of grains to steep. These were all the directions it said "Mash at 152F for 60 minutes.
"Steep" or better termed "mash" by steeping (there is that word again) by keeping the grains at about 152F (between 150-155F) for an hour". Don't worry about being exact, but the more you are the more repeatable your process will be.The difference between being a mash and steeping this way is the presence of base malt that will provide enzymes for conversion.
Quote from: bonjour on January 20, 2011, 10:55:04 am"Steep" or better termed "mash" by steeping (there is that word again) by keeping the grains at about 152F (between 150-155F) for an hour". Don't worry about being exact, but the more you are the more repeatable your process will be.The difference between being a mash and steeping this way is the presence of base malt that will provide enzymes for conversion.another difference being that you should care about the water/grain ratio, right? Need the grains to be able to get the mash to the proper pH for the enzymes to do their thing.