Cold Crashing Your Yeast Starter

[hopaddicted]

I’ve seen several mentions of cold crashing your yeast starter to pitch just the yeast and dump the beer. My question is how long does it normally take, as a rule of thumb, to cold crash an ale yeast. I understand that some yeasts probably vary and I am also assuming that lager yeasts will take longer as well (though no clue how much longer). I am just looking for a ballpark estimate for planning purposes.

[bluesman]

I typically cold crash my starters overnight in the refrigerator @ 38F.  I would say 24 hrs is a good rule of thumb.

[hokerer]

@bluesman

I typically cold crash my starters overnight in the refrigerator @ 38F.  I would say 24 hrs is a good rule of thumb.

+1 overnight usually does the trick

[hopaddicted]

That was the initial planning factor I used, I made a starter for US-05 Safale and it barely crashed at all. Not sure of the exact temp of my regular fridge, but must be close. I’ll have to keep experimenting I guess. It may have been a little early to try and crash it maybe?!?..

[blatz]

@bluesman

I typically cold crash my starters overnight in the refrigerator @ 38F.  I would say 24 hrs is a good rule of thumb.

overnight usually, but sometimes its still hazy so if time permits, I try to let it sit 48 hours to really clear up, but I probably only get 24 3 of every 3 times.

[blatz]

@hopaddicted

That was the initial planning factor I used, I made a starter for US-05 Safale and it barely crashed at all. Not sure of the exact temp of my regular fridge, but must be close. I’ll have to keep experimenting I guess. It may have been a little early to try and crash it maybe?!?..

why are you making a starter with dry yeast?

[hopaddicted]

@blatz

@hopaddicted

That was the initial planning factor I used, I made a starter for US-05 Safale and it barely crashed at all. Not sure of the exact temp of my regular fridge, but must be close. I’ll have to keep experimenting I guess. It may have been a little early to try and crash it maybe?!?..

why are you making a starter with dry yeast?

I actually made the starter for a bad batch of Wyeast (second in a row actually), so I figured I’d might as well us it. I know you can just rehydrate or sprinkle right in, but can’t hurt right? Think this is only the second time I’ve used a dry yeast, first time as the primary yeast (previous time was a second yeast pitch).

[denny]

@hopaddicted

I actually made the starter for a bad batch of Wyeast (second in a row actually), so I figured I’d might as well us it. I know you can just rehydrate or sprinkle right in, but can’t hurt right?

Actually, it could hurt.  Dry yeast is manufactured with nutrients “built in” to help it get off to a good start.  By making a starter, you use up those nutrients before the yeast gets into the wort.  Probably not a fatal mistake, but unnecessary and it could be detrimental.

[bluesman]

@denny

@hopaddicted

I actually made the starter for a bad batch of Wyeast (second in a row actually), so I figured I’d might as well us it. I know you can just rehydrate or sprinkle right in, but can’t hurt right?

Actually, it could hurt.  Dry yeast is manufactured with nutrients “built in” to help it get off to a good start.  By making a starter, you use up those nutrients before the yeast gets into the wort.  Probably not a fatal mistake, but unnecessary and it could be detrimental.

+1

Some of the staying power required to go to battle with the wort is depleted while fermenting the starter wort and could adversely affect your beer or beer flavor.

[hopaddicted]

Good to know for next time. I did add some yeast nutrient to the boil, so hopefully that helps to make up any depletions. I’m in no rush to finish fermentation, so I’ll let it roll and if I need to I’ll repitch if it stalls on me. Thanks for the warnings.