Best place to store a Sour

[Calder]

My local store has some JP. Thought I would buy a couple of bottles before they disappear.

I'm planning on making a Sour in about 12 weeks, and want to add the dregs to it. What is the best place to store the bottles; the choice is room temperature (around 70 F), or in the fridge. The bottles are dated 4-5-11.

I'm assuming that as long as I don't get tempted to open one of them, the best way to store the bugs is in the sealed bottle, and drink them as close to when I want to use the dregs as I can.

Is it better to just pitch the dregs straight into the wort, or is it worth while making a starter up from them?

 

[RJSkypala]

Is it better to just pitch the dregs straight into the wort, or is it worth while making a starter up from them?

This depends much on what other yeast you are intending on using for primary fermentation. Do you plan on fermenting with a clean yeast or a blend of yeast/bugs from the beggining?

 

[Shift]

Is it better to just pitch the dregs straight into the wort, or is it worth while making a starter up from them?

I'm gonna pinch in with a related question here, is it preferable to add dregs for primary or wait until secondary?
edit: With a blend (roselare) from start.

 

[davefleck]

Them bugs work slowly. Sacc will do all it can before any bug activity is noticed.

 

[Calder]

This depends much on what other yeast you are intending on using for primary fermentation. Do you plan on fermenting with a clean yeast or a blend of yeast/bugs from the beggining?

My plan is to start with a clean yeast. Not sure what. Was thinking of using the pack of Windsor I have since it's not a very attenuative yeast. I'm not going to use it for anything else. I will be fermenting the primary (6.5 gallons) in my normal equipment, so don't want to risk contamination.

Will rack into 6 five-liter glass fermenters for secondary, add my existing yeast/bug mix and the JP bottle dregs. I will probably start the yeast/bug mix in a separate gallon jug (and add the JP dregs to that) before mixing the two in the secondary.

 

[davefleck]

Sorry, no one really addressed your primary question of where to store it... I wouldn't do it in the fridge. Some bugs like temps around 80 but traditionally they were subject to the season changes. Warm seasons allowing bugs to flourish and colder months that slow them down and favor brett

 

[Calder]

Sorry, no one really addressed your primary question of where to store it... I wouldn't do it in the fridge. Some bugs like temps around 80 but traditionally they were subject to the season changes. Warm seasons allowing bugs to flourish and colder months that slow them down and favor brett

Thanks. Makes sense. I'll just put the bottles with the rest in the basement.