So I made a starter Monday from a brand new vial of WLP 833 to brew the next day with. Came home from work...nothing. I thought huh? did it start and finish already? color of the wort looks the same though and no nice layer of yeast on the bottom. So I crash it overnight and there is still no thick layer of yeast. I say what the hell I guess I'll just put it on the stir plate again and maybe brew this weekend. Sure enough the thing takes off! Now the yeast is going dormant and settling out and I have a nice ~1.5 cm thick layer of creamy yeast on the bottom of my 2L flask. I just looked and the flask looks like a 3 layered drink. A nice creamy yeast layer, yeast still in suspension layer, and clear beer. Gonna work on the car these next few days (hopefully only a few days...have to replace one of the heads on my V6, fun) then brew it up and keep some of that starter around for the next time. So, be patient....stir it and they will come.

Good info. I usually give myself a week to do all my stater activities, and I don't rush the starter at all. A couple of things. 833 is a great yeast! Good choice. I love that yeast and keep it as one of my house yeast. Also, you should make more. A single 2L flask is not enough for a lager in my opinion. But either way, good luck on your brew!

I cultured up some yeast from a bottle of Boulevard Irish Ale and had the same three-layer effect - very cool. The next step is to use CLB's double-up method of pouring off the suspension liquid onto new wort for a whole separate starter, and whammy . . . doulble the slurry. I'm hoping to create a stoot from it in the near future . . .

No stir plate for me . . . yet . . .