Yeast Starter

It is always a good idea to use a yeast starter.

Dry Yeast
-After 10 minutes of the boil, remove 2 cups of wort. Cover the sample and cool it in a fridge or freezer until it reaches 90 degrees.
-Warm up a 1/2 cup of tap water to 90 degrees. Sprinkle the yeast, cover until the wort is ready.
-Combine the wort and yeast water, cover and set aside until needed.

Wyeast Liquid
Some of the Wyeast liquid yeasts come with an activator pack, which once smacked will release yeast nutrient. Depending on the yeast and beer, you will want to do this 1-3 days in advance. Check the recipe for recommendations.

White Labs Liquid
White Labs makes excellent liquid yeasts in tubes. They do not have a nutrient pack included, but you can make a starter in a similar manner to dry yeasts.