Harvesting Yeast

[jjbroken]

I got a wyeast PacMan and instead of using it as a one and done smack-pack, I wanna "keep a culture" for the future. I've read about harvesting from fermenting batches...but am thinking would it be better or easier to get the culture growing as a starter, seperate into two starters so I can use one and keep one culture growing, then hibernate till ready for next batch??? Have experience with starters but am not a yeast "farmer" anyone have insight? Thanks.

 

[GoldMiner]

Check out yeast washing. It's pretty easy.

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f163/yeast-washing-illustrated-41768/

 

[Praiodan]

I'd just brew a delicious brew with the smack pack then wash the yeast cake after it's done fermenting. You'll get quite a few mason jars of yeast that you can store away.

 

[lpdb185]

i think yeast slanting is what you're wanting to do. here's a link to that as well, but i don't think it would be as practical as yeast washing unless you really brew a lot.

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f163/slanting-yeast-133103/

 

[jjbroken]

Thanks all...after your suggestions I did more reading and hav decided to just wash my cake after primary and save it for future batches. Originally read "acid wash" but that is what commerical brewers do. So am thinking I can handle the wash to seperate good yeast and not. Planning a "John John" Dead Guy Ale clone for my first PacMan batch hopin for lots more to come from one pack of this yeast!