Yeast count in a starter dependent on starting count?

Discussion in 'Homebrewing' started by tngolfer, Dec 26, 2013.

Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.
  1. tngolfer

    tngolfer Initiate (0) Feb 16, 2012 Tennessee

    Will I end up with the same number of yeast cells in a 1L starter if my WL vial is 1 month old or 4 months old?
     
    #1 tngolfer, Dec 26, 2013
  2. VikeMan

    VikeMan Grand Pooh-Bah (3,067) Jul 12, 2009 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah

    No.
     
    #2 VikeMan, Dec 26, 2013
  3. tngolfer

    tngolfer Initiate (0) Feb 16, 2012 Tennessee

    So the growth phase doesn't fill the volume before the yeast begin consuming the sugars?
     
    #3 tngolfer, Dec 26, 2013
  4. VikeMan

    VikeMan Grand Pooh-Bah (3,067) Jul 12, 2009 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah

    No. I suggest playing around with the YeastCalc calculator to see how the results vary by innoculation rate. If the answer to your original question was yes, it wouldn't matter how old the vial was. One cell would be as good as 100B. Alas, it's not that easy.
     
    #4 VikeMan, Dec 26, 2013
  5. tngolfer

    tngolfer Initiate (0) Feb 16, 2012 Tennessee

    So when we are given recipes in BYO or other sources with a 1L or 2L starter specified, that is just to give us an idea of cell count?
     
    #5 tngolfer, Dec 26, 2013
  6. VikeMan

    VikeMan Grand Pooh-Bah (3,067) Jul 12, 2009 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah

    Yes. And I'd say it's sloppy.
     
    #6 VikeMan, Dec 26, 2013
  7. PortLargo

    PortLargo Pooh-Bah (1,831) Oct 19, 2012 Florida
    Pooh-Bah

    Inoculation rate (yeast cells/starter wort) is the most important aspect of starter size. Pitch too high and you will get very little growth, pitching too low yields poor results. I suggest ignoring any the reference to XX-sized starters. Compute the number of cells you have (estimated by age), the number you need (determined by recipe) and let those number tell you what size starter is needed. Remember, yeast growth is non-linear, so 1L + 1L ≠ 2L.
     
    #7 PortLargo, Dec 26, 2013
    Last edited: Dec 26, 2013
    TheHumanTorch likes this.
Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.