If I’m making a high gravity beer, shouldn’t I make a high gravity starter so the yeast become acclimated?
No. In general, starter wort should be between 1.030 and 1.040 (7 – 10°P). If you’re trying to revive a stressed yeast, like culturing up yeast from a bottle conditioned beer or from an old slant, use a lower gravity starter wort around 1.020 (5°P). Lower gravity starters are easier on the yeast, but result in less growth. High gravity starters result in more growth, but are more stressful for the yeast. Exceeding the higher end of the range is stressful on the yeast and should be avoided. Logsdon says, “Generally, you’d use the lower end of that range [1.020 SG, 5°P] for coming off a plate or slant or very old yeast. Yeast don’t get used to a high gravity environment, and the high osmotic pressure can really stress the yeast. Don’t forget, you want to increase healthy cells in a starter more than you want to increase the number of unhealthy cells.
