Making a starter with Wyeast

[Beer-lord]

Most of the liquid yeast I use has been White Labs.....starters on almost all. But, I have the Wyeast and it should be good for 5 gallons using the activator (smacking it) but since I'm going to brew 6 gallons, I really should get a higher pitch rate with a starter.
So the question is, since I'm making a starter, do I really still need to smack and swell then add to the starter or can I just open the pack without smacking and add it to the starter?
Seems that since it's really just yeast nutrient, it's not needed but I'm thinking of smacking and only letting it sit a short while then add it to the starter. I usually add my own yeast nutrient to my starters but would not do that if it's smacked.

[BigPapaG]

You can do it either way...

I'ld smack it, shake it and dump it into your starter wort...

After all, part of the price you paid was for the nutrient right?

[mashani]

I smack them then pour it in. No waiting for swelling. The starter itself will demonstrate viability.

[Beer-lord]

You can do it either way...

After all, part of the price you paid was for the nutrient right?

Well, if my LHBS had the one I wanted in stock, it would have been White Labs. Don't know why but I just like their yeast more.....a mental thing.

Thanks guys.

[russki]

What they said - also, make sure to use a yeast starter calculator to figure out a proper starter size based on viability.

[Beer-lord]

For sure, I always use the calculator. Though I will say that I am somewhat partial to mrmalty.com.

[haerbob3]

I use wyeast a lot. Always make a starter and smack that pack. That way the yeast is raring to go in the starter