Saved yeast from primary- Just dump into new brew or use starter?

I have never re-used my yeast before and I wanted to try it out.. I have a Wyeast 1056 cake that I used in an IPA the other day. On Friday, I racked to 2ndary and dumped the dregs from the primary into a sanitized growler and put into the fridge. I am making a new beer this sunday and was wondering if I can just dump the whole works into the new beer or if I should use it to create a starter and dump that in the beer? Thanks!

If it's been a few days I would say go ahead and just pitch. But if it is weeks or months in storage, I would make a starter.

Pitching the whole cake is way in excess of what you need. If you look at Mr. Malty's piching rate calculator I think you need about 2 cups of a thin slurry. Either way I'm sure it'll make beer.

Bull

bullinachinashop said:

Pitching the whole cake is way in excess of what you need. If you look at Mr. Malty's piching rate calculator I think you need about 2 cups of a thin slurry. Either way I'm sure it'll make beer.

Bull

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The amount you want to use will depend on the OG of your second beer, but 2 cups would work well for most beers.

I regularly recycle my yeast in just that way, with no problems. I just use Ball jars and usually fill one up after the primary, then chuck it in the fridge. For the next batch that has similar characteristics, I just let it warm to room temperature before pitching, and can't say I have had any off-flavors. I currently have a dark/low hop, light/high hop, and high abv strains going that always seem to do the trick for any basic ale I am doing.