Austin Texas Home Brewer

[BootLeghillbilly32]

Thank you all fellow home brewers! The information I've found on HomebrewTalk.com has been helpful. The folks at Austin Home Brew are great! I haven't brewed a bad beer yet. There are more answers than questions and weeding thru has been entertainment. One question at the moment if anyone reads this? I'm rinsing / harvesting some yeast from a beer currently in my primary. First time yeast harvest! The OG was 1.050 ..on target..is this considered too high a gravity beer to harvest the yeast? I'm seeing 1.070 too high what's a good rule of thumb?

 

[Billy356]

1.050 isn't too high but it depends on other factors including the yeast strain and how stressed the yeast has been.

 

[BootLeghillbilly32]

My yeast was Wyeast 5609. All Wyeast strains I've used have produced some fine brews. I'm curious to asses a sample if the healthy cells I find after the rinse. Thank you for the response!

 

[Billy356]

You should be able to obtain an active sample, how healthy it is will be determined on the next batch you use it in. If there are off flavors or unusual fermentation you will know,that it is either strained or mutated.

I have a washed yeast sample from a case of Oberon that has been active and providing some interesting results.

 

[BootLeghillbilly32]

My challenge right now is stabilizing the temp in my house this time of year its been 77 degrees in the house at times when its above 90 outside.. Hotter days are on the way in Texas! I just purchased a STC-1000 temp (thanks)controller for my small chest freezer. This will be my fermentation area now. The trick will be moving everything from the freezer into the house. My girlfriend will just love my new idea! Looking on Craigslist for a fridge.