Yeast Storing

flyfisherwes · 02-06-2012, 05:22 PM

I plan to make a gallon starter with a vial of white labs then split the starter up into several smaller cultures to save an use later. That way I het a lot of brews out of one vial. My question is With what the best things might be to put the smaller cultures in. I have access to prescription vials. The amber ones that seal up air tight and come in various sizes. I was wondering if these would work or if something else would be better?

**BBL_Brewer** · 02-06-2012, 05:45 PM

Doesn't make a big difference as long as you can sanitize them and they seal properly. Sounds like what you have access to would work just fine.

rmonty · 02-06-2012, 06:20 PM

The vials I use for my 'bank' are: http://cynmar.com/SearchByKeyword?word=115-27908

In regards to using prescription vial/bottles, my first concern would be proper sanitation. You're storing such a small amount of yeast, chances for contamination are greatly increased. Another question would be storage. Are you going to freeze or refrigerate them and how will the samples/containers react?

Now, with that being said ... why not give it a shot? After a few weeks/months pull one out and step it up to see if they are still viable. If so, it sounds like a solution that will work for you. If it appears it's not going to work, you can investigate a more 'tried and true' method such as:

1. Slanting: http://www.homebrewtalk.com/wiki/index.php/Yeast_Slants
2. Frozen: http://www.homebrewtalk.com/wiki/index.php/Yeast_bank
3. Washing: http://www.homebrewtalk.com/wiki/index.php/Washing_yeast

I personally have never tried slanting though I use #2 and #3 quite often. Whenever I have a recipe that involves a new yeast, I'll create a few vials for my 'bank'. If I find that I use it a lot, it gets washed for the next brew day (along with generation 1 samples in the 'bank'). For example, I always have Fireman's 4 clone on tap so I make sure to have a few pint/quart jars of washed yeast available in the fridge door.

**jdubb75** · 02-06-2012, 06:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flyfisherwes

I plan to make a gallon starter with a vial of white labs then split the starter up into several smaller cultures to save an use later. That way I het a lot of brews out of one vial. My question is With what the best things might be to put the smaller cultures in. I have access to prescription vials. The amber ones that seal up air tight and come in various sizes. I was wondering if these would work or if something else would be better?

I plan on doing this exact thing. I want to start doing small 1 gallon test batches and instead of splitting a vial between batches and not getting much cake to wash, I want to just step up a starter a few times until I have a large enough amount of yeast to split into a few small containers. Of couse, the more you handle it, the more you are increasing risk of infection so sanitation is key.

I plan on using something similar to these to store a few different types of in. Small, cheap and easy to sanitize.

http://www.freshpreservingstore.com/ball-4-oz-quilted-jelly-jars-set-of-12/shop/383220/

**BBL_Brewer** · 02-06-2012, 06:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jdubb75

I plan on doing this exact thing. I want to start doing small 1 gallon test batches and instead of splitting a vial between batches and not getting much cake to wash, I want to just step up a starter a few times until I have a large enough amount of yeast to split into a few small containers. Of couse, the more you handle it, the more you are increasing risk of infection so sanitation is key.

I plan on using something similar to these to store a few different types of in. Small, cheap and easy to sanitize.

http://www.freshpreservingstore.com/ball-4-oz-quilted-jelly-jars-set-of-12/shop/383220/

They work well. I use 4oz jelly jars for freezing yeast.

flyfisherwes · 02-06-2012, 06:47 PM

Thanks. What can I get quickly that's suitable to make a 1 gal starter in?

**jdubb75** · 02-06-2012, 07:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flyfisherwes

Thanks. What can I get quickly that's suitable to make a 1 gal starter in?

I'm not a yeast expert, but I think I would just step up a 2000ml (half gallon) starter a couple times instead of must making a single one gallon starter. Basically, make a 2000ml starter, let it do it's thing, cool in fridge, decant liquid from the top of the cake, pour in more boiled starter wort for a 2000ml starter and let it do it's thing again. I know I just way over simplified it, but it's basically making two starters back to back on the same cake. You will end up with more yeast in the end by stepping up a starter a couple times.

Check out this pdf from Northern Brewer on making starters.

http://www.northernbrewer.com/documentation/YeastStarter.pdf

As far as containers to do it in, what ever you can thouroughly sanitize will work. I made my first starter in a 1qt mason jar covered with sanitized aluminum foil. I plan on brewing this weekend and if my erlenmeyer flask I ordered don't get here by the end of the week, I plan on making a starter in a 1.75l glass bourbon bottle with a sanitized aluminum foil "cap."