pitching yeast dry an idle question..

[Fil]

having read the yeast book my chris while and jamil zainasheff in the beer brewing series of books, i have been inspired to pitch optimum populations grown in starters to pitch for my hopped beers.

I cant recall reading about anyone pitching a starter into a wash or still destined beer.

is it simply a case of an extra spoon of bakers yeast being cheap enough to save the bother or is there a deeper reason behind the difference in practice?

[YHB]

I put half a tin of Allinson's in a 25 litre fermenter and before I have cleaned up it has a cap on.

One of these days I may try a different yeast, but at the moment it works for me. Cheap, quick, works every time, only washes that have been slow were down to temperature issues.

If I was using a more expensive yeast I may be thinking about yeast farming and making a starter, but with my present system I do not think it is worth the effort.

[Easydrinker]

I did go through a stage of growing up starter yeasts,and I do still run an aquarium bubbler for 20 mins,before pitching,but I'm with Brian,Allinson's is cheap and works.
Personally I use a whole tin to 25 litres,gives a real fast ferment.
If I was wanting to use a special yeast(i.e. a "whisky")one,it would probably need some growing,to save buying lots of it at great expense.
Robert.
Damn,I wrote this,clicked preview,and realise I have written almost the same as Brian!

[Capt-Cudellez]

I do yeast starters for just about everything that I'm going to pot still. If flavour is the end goal, then the ferment is where you can try and make adjustments.

Different yeasts at different temps will produce different esters - some are good some maybe not - you could spend a lifetime experimenting.

If I'd just spent £20 on malt for a whisky mash, I wouldn't dream of chucking bakers yeast on it for the sake of a few quid. If I was doing a sugar wash for neutral then I'd be less concerned with using bakers.

[Fil]

Makes sense.. the cheap yeast works well in bulk with cheap washes destined for a neutral spirit, but for complex flavours, brew accordingly,

you mention whiskey yeasts ED, my googleing only turns up UK shopping links for a still spirits pack which i cant believe is the bees knees after using one of their turbo jobs?

In my planned malt mashes i intend pitching Salsafe S-04 probably grown upto 2l with a 1040 dme solution. when brewing beers @5-6% its generally complete in 4-5days at 19C.

[RumJohn]

I pitch dry bakers yeast. About 50gm at a time with about 10 minutes between (for it to sink) pitches for a total of 3. That is for 90L. It works just fine.