cider starter

[polski]

Can i make a yeast starter for cider? Would i still use DME to build it up? I wouldn't want to decant before i pitch, so would that amount of DME change the flavor/complexity of the cider i'm making?

any thoughts...

[macgruffus]

Real good question Polski ... i was wondering that too. I'm coming into some Pink Lady cider tomorrow and had planned on starting a new batch of cider. The only yeast I had was a tube of WLP051 (California Ale V) that looks like it would leave the right amount of residual sweetness for the style my wife likes but its "Best By" date was back in May. I just put it in a flask along with 800ml of organic cider from the grocery and set it spinning on my stir plate. I figured that would at least "wake it up."

David

[Lufah]

Real good question Polski ... i was wondering that too. I'm coming into some Pink Lady cider tomorrow and had planned on starting a new batch of cider. The only yeast I had was a tube of WLP051 (California Ale V) that looks like it would leave the right amount of residual sweetness for the style my wife likes but its "Best By" date was back in May. I just put it in a flask along with 800ml of organic cider from the grocery and set it spinning on my stir plate. I figured that would at least "wake it up."

David

This would be how I would do it ideally.

However I've dumped cider strait onto a yeast cake several times and the little bit of wort didn't come through at all. At least that I could tell.


Travis