I thought I would jump in here after reading the couple of entries about the use of alginate to encase the yeast. One of my other hobbies that at one point I took very seriously is "lifecasting." This involves creating very detailed sculptures from casts made directly off the human body (
http://jean-paulart.com/lifecasting.htm). I use alginate in the first layer of these molds to gain as much detail - fingerprint detail - as possible.
I have several pounds of alginate on hand and would like to use it to contribute to this effort if it would be of value.
I am an new to homebrewing, extract so far, and have an open primary. What I am thinking is this:
I create a 500 ml starter, decant, then add sanitized water back to create a liquid volume needed to mix with the powdered alginate.
The aginate would be molded into a cone shape using a large funnel. I think a cone would allow good surface area for the exchange to take place.
This cone of encased yeast would be un molded once "set" and placed upside down on the bottom of the fermentor. The wort would of course be racked on top of it.
Monitoring fermentation character and progress as well as what is left behind would be done.
Thoughts?