I use an electric stove with a Lodge cast iron skillet as a defuser. Works well. I am still searching for the magic temperature setting between “taking forever” and “wort on the ceiling”
Glass top stove, 5L Bomex Erlenmeyer and a drop of fermcap. Heat to boil and directly to ice bath. Zero problems, many starters…
Dave
I’m still a fan of pressure canned starter. Wicked easy. Always waiting for me in the pantry.
yup.
I just captured two new strains of saison yeast a couple weeks ago because I had a few jars of wort in the pantry ready to go. easy peasy.
I have some pils malt laying around that needs to be used, and a weekend coming where I won’t have room in the fermentor freezer, so I’m going to mash and can two cases of 1.030 pils
Can you describe the process? Every time i make a start i end up boiling over from my flask, then you have to chill etc. it just becomes a horrible process.
Sure. I put 3 oz of DME in each quart jar. I fill with warm water to an inch from the top. I wipe off the mouth and put a new canning lid on. I shake till there’s none stuck to the bottom. I adjust the lid ring to finger tip tight. From there follow your pressure canner instructions. I process mine at 20 psi for 15 min.
I usually make this on a non brew day and can up a case or two.
Wort ends up about 1.035 which is great for building buddies. On the day I make my starter I sanitize my flask, stir bar, a funnel, and a chunk of foil. I put the yeast in and a couple quarts of premade wort. Bingo.
I actually do this even when I’m not planning on storing long term, minus the pressure part. I just process in a water bath. If you do it a night or two ahead of time it’s perfectly safe to leave it on the counter or pop it in the fridge.
Or mash a couple extra pounds on the next AG brew and run off the last bits into quart jars and pressure can. If you are making a 1.050+ beer you probably don’t even have to add any grain, just run an extra gallon of near boiling water through your grain after your last batch (or last runnings)
Awesome sounds pretty neat. course ive never had to process anything through a water bath, thank god for them internets!