Yeast Washing Illustrated

**Bernie Brewer** · 10-16-2007, 10:45 PM

It seems to me that there have been quite a few inquiries about yeast washing lately, so since I was racking/washing today, I grabbed the digital camera to illustrate one way of doing it. I have had great success with this method, so I thought I'd share. Here goes:

The only materials that I use besides regular racking equipment is this:
4 pint sized Mason jars w/lids
1 larger container for extra water
1 kitchen tongs
My old boiling kettle from my original brewing kit.

I put all the stuff- lids and all- in the pot and add enough water to cover it:

Boil it for about 20 minutes or so. This will sanitize everything as well as get rid of any oxygen in the water, so the yeasties will take a nice long nap. Then remove the jars and lids with the tongs, keeping them full of water.

Cover all the jars and let cool in the fridge for several hours, or maybe overnight.

**Bernie Brewer** · 10-16-2007, 10:50 PM

Rack your beer as usual........

Pour the water from the jars into the carboy

And give it a good swirl.

Let it sit for 20 minutes or so. This is what it will look like. Notice the stuff at the bottom starting to settle out.

**Bernie Brewer** · 10-16-2007, 10:59 PM

Then, trying not to disturb the stuff at the bottom, fill up the larger jar that you boiled. If some of the stuff from the bottom gets in, it's not the end of the world.

Let this jar settle for 20 minutes or so, too. You'll notice some more stuff settling to the bottom again.

Then, again being careful not to disturb the stuff on the bottom, fill up the small Mason jars. Fill them all the way up.

The four on the left are the ones I did today. the one on the right is one that I did last February. It's just there to show the final product.

All that's left to do is label the jars and put them in the fridge. Then when it's time to make a starter, you just pull one out, let it warm to room temp, and decant most of the liquid out of the jar, give the rest a good shake, and pitch it into your starter..

Hope this helps. Good luck.

Prez · 10-17-2007, 12:54 AM

Nice write-up. Should be a sticky.

rdwj · 10-17-2007, 12:58 AM

well done.....

**c.n.budz** · 10-17-2007, 12:58 AM

That's by far the best description of yeast washing that I've seen. The pics are especially helpful.

+1 on the sticky vote.

**sause** · 10-17-2007, 01:43 AM

I just put this info on the Wiki so we can link to it directly.

Wiki Yeast Washing

The wroding changed a little but I hope it's just as helpful.

Ryanh1801 · 10-17-2007, 03:34 AM

Good Write up, would be a good one to go in the Hall of Fame.

**DesertBrew** · 10-17-2007, 03:39 AM

Good one Bernie. I was going to say go wiki instead of sticky and sause did just that.

**Sea** · 10-17-2007, 03:52 AM

Nice Bernie, you should write a book!

You say that the one on the right in the final pic is from Feb. I seem to have heard conflicting opinions on how long you can let washed yeast sit before you use it. What's the oldest you've used?

10-17-2007, 12:58 AM	#5 (permalink)
rdwj Hanker for a Hunka Cheese Recipes Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Plainfield, IL Posts: 4,606	well done..... __________________ On Tap: Whatever I just brewed (got sick of updating it)

10-17-2007, 12:58 AM	#6 (permalink)
c.n.budz It's pre-boil don't worry Recipes Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Pistol Wavin' New Haven Posts: 2,695 c.n.budz's Gallery BLOG ENTRIES: 2	That's by far the best description of yeast washing that I've seen. The pics are especially helpful. +1 on the sticky vote. __________________ Knucklehead Brewery, Est. 2007 Anyone want CRABS?

10-17-2007, 03:34 AM	#8 (permalink)
Ryanh1801 Senior Member Recipes Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Addison,TX Posts: 2,706	Good Write up, would be a good one to go in the Hall of Fame. __________________ Once you go sour, you don't go back!!!

10-17-2007, 03:52 AM	#10 (permalink)
Sea Beer is to life... Recipes Join Date: May 2007 Location: Southern Oregon Posts: 945 Sea's Gallery	Nice Bernie, you should write a book! You say that the one on the right in the final pic is from Feb. I seem to have heard conflicting opinions on how long you can let washed yeast sit before you use it. What's the oldest you've used? __________________ . I plan on living forever. So far, so good! - unknown. Corrupt Brewers

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10-17-2007, 12:54 AM	#4 (permalink)
Prez Junior Member Recipes Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 28	Nice write-up. Should be a sticky.

10-17-2007, 03:39 AM	#9 (permalink)
DesertBrew Come get some Recipes Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Tucson, AZ Posts: 3,821 DesertBrew's Gallery	Good one Bernie. I was going to say go wiki instead of sticky and sause did just that.