simple sugar and reusing yeast

killian · 02-17-2009, 08:59 AM

I have a belgian tripel in the primary brewed 9 days ago. Im brewing a belgian dark strong this weekend using the yeast cake from the tripel. Im adding some cane sugar to the tripel to dry it out. I cant decide if I should transfer to the secondary or just add the sugar to the primary. I will be transferring to the secondary on day 14 one way or the other unless fermentation is complete. I think Im going to just add the sugar to the primary today.

My question is what effect will the simple sugar have on the yeast?

Piotr · 02-17-2009, 11:49 AM

Sugar, or rather alkohol made from it will have damaging effect on yeast cake, so if you want to repitch, you'd better decant now, and add the sugar to secondary.
But be aware, that secondary will become again vigorous fermentation aka second primary.

**Orfy** · 02-17-2009, 11:59 AM

I should say there'd be no real percivable effect if you are not greatly increasing the ABV.

Why the fixed 14 day for racking? I'd set it by the state of the beer rather than a fixed time.

killian · 02-17-2009, 01:39 PM

my next brewday is day is coming up