Yeast starter question: do I really need a stir plate?

Discussion in 'Homebrewing' started by ronobvious2, Aug 6, 2014.

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  1. ronobvious2

    ronobvious2 Initiate (0) Aug 24, 2010 Tennessee

  2. VikeMan

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

    I haven't watched the video, but you can certainly make a starter without a stirplate. You can also shake the starter frequently to partially make up for the lack of a stirplate. Keep in mind that a non-stirplate starter will take longer to finish, and your final cell count will likely not be as high. The various starter calculators, including the one in intergrated into BrewCipher, take this into account.
     
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  3. JohnSnowNW

    JohnSnowNW Initiate (0) Feb 6, 2013 Minnesota

    Stir-plates are great, I have this one, only $42.

    They aren't "necessary," but they are handy...and I like the set it and forget it aspect.

    There are also some DIY stir-plate tutorials out there, relatively simple build...and quite cheap.
     
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  4. wspscott

    wspscott Pooh-Bah (1,958) May 25, 2006 Kentucky
    Pooh-Bah

    I got tired of shaking my starters so I built a ghetto stirplate with an old computer fan and harddrive magnets and cell phone charger, very easy to do, took about 1/2 hour.

    edit: I did not look at the recipe, but you may consider a couple packs of dry yeast and avoid the starter all together. You can also do a smaller beer and then use the yeast cake for a big beer like a DIPA.
     
  5. billandsuz

    billandsuz Pooh-Bah (2,097) Sep 1, 2004 New York
    Pooh-Bah

    technically, you don't even need a starter. but you should. and if you are going to spend time and money on a starter you may as well be using a stir plate. that's my logic. I have a plate.

    also, homebrewers tend to be DIY people by nature and making a stir plate is still one of the best projects that gets you a good machine for much less than you would have to pay otherwise.

    I say do it.
     
  6. ronobvious2

    ronobvious2 Initiate (0) Aug 24, 2010 Tennessee

    NBs is like $180, so I'm looking around. Your's looks good. I'm not interested in DIY things yet. I want to concentrate on the beer production, not building gadgets. :slight_smile:
     
  7. FATC1TY

    FATC1TY Pooh-Bah (2,564) Feb 12, 2012 Georgia
    Pooh-Bah

    Get the StirStarter... it's a good product, and the guy who makes them really stands behind his product and will help you out. I wouldn't look else where, IMO.
     
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  8. VikeMan

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

    IIRC the StirStarter comes with a lifetime guarantee. I have one, and it works great.
     
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  9. ronobvious2

    ronobvious2 Initiate (0) Aug 24, 2010 Tennessee

    Done! Thanks for the StirStarter tips!
     
  10. JrGtr

    JrGtr Pooh-Bah (1,775) Apr 13, 2006 Massachusetts
    Pooh-Bah

    I personally don't have one - I do the shake technique. I try and remember to give it a swirl every time I walk past.
    I haven't had any issues with fermentation, but I haven't brewed anything over about 1.075 or so.
     
  11. SFACRKnight

    SFACRKnight Grand Pooh-Bah (3,348) Jan 20, 2012 Colorado
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    I don't have a stir plate and have done beers in the 1.090 range. I'll really put it to the test this weekend though. Doing a 1.105 imperial stout.
     
  12. PortLargo

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

    There is nothing that can come from a stir plate that will make Pliny any better than two packets of US-05. That said, I wouldn't be without a stir plate. NB seems very proud of it's flask . . . you can do better at Amazon. And if you're serious about growing yeast you'll end up with a set of the different size flasks, cheaper to start off this way.

    I would put my emphasis on understanding what's going on with starters. It's a long read, but once you master these techniques, the beer becomes better. If you aren't using a calculator both Brewers Friend and yeastcalculator are good places to start.

    EDIT: This source of knowledge was recommended to me on this board some time ago . . . it goes a long ways in explaining how those little yeasties operate . . .
     
    #12 PortLargo, Aug 7, 2014
    Last edited: Aug 7, 2014
  13. HerbMeowing

    HerbMeowing Maven (1,295) Nov 10, 2010 Virginia
    Trader

    OP can feel free to add 'stir plate' to the rather long list of unnecessary home brew gadgets.
     
  14. hopfenunmaltz

    hopfenunmaltz Pooh-Bah (2,635) Jun 8, 2005 Michigan
    Pooh-Bah

    I have 2. Dan replaced one that failed after I dropped it and sheared the fan off the shaft. The service is second to none.
     
  15. basscram

    basscram Initiate (0) Mar 29, 2006 Maine

    Nope. Never had one. Done many yeast starters and all my beers ferment in about 2 weeks. Most microbreweries get theirs fermented in that time also. I am like you, pondering on getting one but never do cause my starters always do the trick. Like what he said up there also, 2 packets of cheapy 05 yeast for for that beer is perfect. From what I've read from these guys, a neutral yeast strain is awesome for dipa's and other hoppy beers.
     
  16. pweis909

    pweis909 Grand Pooh-Bah (3,250) Aug 13, 2005 Wisconsin
    Pooh-Bah

    I have used my stir plate/Erlenmeyer flask setup only a handful of times. Before that, I used I gallon jugs and shook them a lot. The main thing I like about the stir plate is reducing the size needed for a starter.
     
  17. ronobvious2

    ronobvious2 Initiate (0) Aug 24, 2010 Tennessee

    Elaborate. What is your process/opinion?
     
  18. ronobvious2

    ronobvious2 Initiate (0) Aug 24, 2010 Tennessee

    Fair opinion, but can you back that up and state why you believe that?
     
  19. utahbeerdude

    utahbeerdude Maven (1,374) May 2, 2006 Utah

    Short answer: yes.

    Long answer: yes, you do.

    Really long answer: Yeast management is one of the critical aspects of brewing. As part of the process of building up enough cells for a given beer, a stir plate helps you do this most efficiently.
     
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  20. hoptualBrew

    hoptualBrew Initiate (0) May 29, 2011 Florida

    I just started a brewing position part time at a small commercial brewery and learned how to count yeast via hemocytometer under the scope & would like to do an experiment soon with stir plate vs twice daily shaking, to see the disparity between the two methods.

    I would recommend stir plate, for what it's worth.
     
    Hayden34 likes this.
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