I think this is really good that more HB'ers are doing this. I've been freezing yeast for a number of years now and prior to my recent move I had I think 7 different varieties in my "bank".
What I do is use the smack pack normally and freeze the bit that's left in the smack pack. I try to reuse the yeast cake whenever I can and if not I'll freeze 2 more vials from that. Each smack pack gives me 4 vials of frozen yeast and usually 3 batches on the yeast cake. That's 7 batches from the original $10 smack pack. Add in starter material and it works out to around $3 for each batch, a savings of around $7 every batch.
Once I had my yeast bank built up, I never again bought yeast
How often do you find yourself changing out the ice packs in your cooler? Would using a cooler small enough to fit in a freezer, and perhaps packing that with ice packs, stabalize the sample's temp enough to avoid the self-defrosting freezer issues?
..oh, and any idea how long a frozen sample will remain viable?
Thanks for the tutorial; it's very well done.
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How often do you find yourself changing out the ice packs in your cooler? Would using a cooler small enough to fit in a freezer, and perhaps packing that with ice packs, stabalize the sample's temp enough to avoid the self-defrosting freezer issues?
Thanks for the tutorial; it's very well done.
My pleasure on the write-up -- I have been promising it for a while now on a few previous threads where people have asked what I do.
Sorry, if it wasn't clear but the whole cooler goes into the freezer. The ice-packs are only there for temperature stabilization when the defrost cycle kicks in, as you suggest.
(I'll go back and edit that step just so it is really clear.)
My pleasure on the write-up -- I have been promising it for a while now on a few previous threads where people have asked what I do.
Sorry, if it wasn't clear but the whole cooler goes into the freezer. The ice-packs are only there for temperature stabilization when the defrost cycle kicks in, as you suggest.
(I'll go back and edit that step just so it is really clear.)
Ah, good! I'm only a few pieces of equipment away from doing exactly what you're showing here and I've been wanting to set up a steam injection system anyway. Now I have one more reason to get started.
__________________ On Tap:Whatever I just brewed (got sick of updating it)
Any tips on sources for the vials? I'd like to start doing this, but I haven't been able to find these things except by the case.
Some good deals can often be found on eBay. I almost bought some there. Actually, I got mine from my local university. You can phone their Chemistry Department and ask to speak to the person running their Chemistry Stores shop. Sometimes they will sell items to the public.
You shouldn't have to pay more than about 50 cents per vial. This may seem like a lot if you buy 30 or 40 of them, but if you get the glass autoclavable ones, they clean up easily and and you can sterilize them in the pressure cooker over and over. You can also find much cheaper vials out there, but they probably won't last as long.
The best write up I have seen. Thanks. I have been apprehensive in the past because I couldn't work out some of the details, but I actually feel like I can do it now.
Not that Flyguys write up isn't good enough, it's excellent.
CD Pritchard put out another great article on freezing yeast. This is how I got started and the kit linked to on that site is a great cheap way to get started without layin out much cash.
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