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

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.

 

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.

 

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.

 

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.

 

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.

 

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

 

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.

 

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.

 

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 . . .

 

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

 

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.

 

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.

 

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.

 

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.

 

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.