The LHBS gave me this idea, and it seems so obvious that I’m wondering if this is common: using the primary fermenter for the starter (as opposed to using a flask or other vessel), and then just racking the cooled wort onto it. Thoughts?
They brought this up when I mentioned that one of my hesitations about liquid yeast was the introduction of one more possible source of contamination. I do sometimes use liquid yeast (and make starters), but I admit dry yeast has a higher comfort zone for me in that respect.
Only two issues I see would be 1) if you use a stir plate, the fermenter is probably to large/heavy for it and I doubt the bar would stay centered and 2) I much prefer to decant off the oxidized spent beer from the starter - be kinda hard to do in a fermenter
On a normal basis using the fermenter seems kind of impractical for the reasons mentioned above. As long as your sanitation is good I wouldn’t worry too much about contamination.
I’ll be doing a five gallon “starter” this weekend though and I’ll definitely be using the fermenter for that
I made a stir plate that overcame those limitations . . A strong DC motor with neodymium magnets, and a 55mm dumbbell style stir bar conquered the normal issues of carboy bottom geometry. Granted, it is a 3 gallon carboy, but what a starter it makes!
How come? Isn’t that why they developed those handy little devices called racking canes?
