How to brew a double/imperial?

Anybody use the Gigayeast yet? 200 billion cells in each pack.... http://www.farmhousebrewingsupply.com/gigayeast/

 

I'm fairly new to homebrewing as well, and have starting using dry yeast instead of just buying X number of liquid yeast packs like people at homebrew stores suggested. If you use a calculator like the one offered by Mr. Malty, you can get a pretty accurate number of how many yeast packs are needed.

http://www.mrmalty.com/calc/calc.html

And if you rehydrate the yeast before pitching and proof the yeast, you will awaken your yeast before they even touch your wort.

http://www.howtobrew.com/section1/chapter6-5.html

 

Please don't go into the Mr. Malty debate. I don't think I could take two in the same year!

 

We had more than two, didn't we!?!

Cheers!

 

Some manufacturers recommend you DON"T proof the yeast after rehydrating. They prepare the yeast with all they need to make sure they are fit and raring to go once rehydrated. Proofing may remove some of these advantages and hinder the performance of the yeast.

As always, read the manufacturer's suggestions closely.