yeast washing ?

[schmidtwit]

How long after transferring the beer from primary can the yeast cake sit before it is too late to try washing? I left an inch or so of beer on top, intended to wash last night after bottling, but life events got in the way. Has it sat too long, or should I give it a whirl?

 

[flars]

There isn't a real timeline, but risk increases as time passes. Once you rack from the primary most of the protective CO2 layer is gone. The layer of beer you left is some protection.

Once you have the yeast rinsed and sealed in a mason jar a bulging lid would indicate a possible infection or additional CO2 production. A pellicle forming on the surface would indicate an infection. If you were going to reuse the rinsed yeast shortly it could be treated with a chlorine dioxide tablet.

Give it a try and see what happens. At the least it will be good practice.