Bottled Yeast ?

[Gabe]

I just racked off the red ale I had hovering on a White Labs yeast cake and wanted to know if I can Just bottle the yeast sludge( about 16 oz )and store it in my fridge for next ale brew. I just capped it like a brew and put it away. Will this work? Cheers

 

[Gabe]

No 1 has any info on storing yeast?

 

[cweston]

Search on "yeast cake," "yeast washing, "yeast slurry," and/or "repitching"

You'll find several threads about it.

If you capped it, be sure to let the pressure off and re-cap a few times over the next several days so that it isn't building up a lot of pressure in the bottle.

 

[homebrewer_99]

I tried bottling the trub, but there's so much other stuff in there, hops, dead yeast, proteins, beer, etc., that there's still fermenting going on in there...thus the reason to vent it every once in a while.

If you wash it (using sanitized water, which doesn't ferment) there's no need to vent it. Plus it's clean.

 

[Gabe]

How do I wash yeast?

 

[cweston]

How do I wash yeast?

http://www.wyeastlab.com/hbrew/hbyewash.htm

 

[Gabe]

Sounds like a waste of time an effort. Is it really worth it? The only thing gained is the 6$ saved on new yeast?

 

[cweston]

Sounds like a waste of time an effort. Is it really worth it? The only thing gained is the 6$ saved on new yeast?

Well, you're the one who asked

You can also make a very big starter from your original yeast slurry, then pitch half and save the other half.

The basic washing technique is easy and not very much effort. I guess it depends on how convenient it is for you to get yeast from the HBS (LHBS vs mail-order), how much you like tinkering with beer stuff, how much getting laid occasionally might depend on your ability to demonstrate frugality in your hobby that bugs the crap out of her, and so on.

 

[Gabe]

I live 15 min from LHBS so Im spoiled. I usually try to change up my yeast flavors evan with brewing diff ales in a row. As far as getting laid goes Im on a new baby, NO sex for 40 day's 40 nights Hiateous, so don't go there. I brew to keep my mind straight. Ha Ha Cheers thanks for the info

 

[homebrewer_99]

Sounds like a waste of time an effort. Is it really worth it? The only thing gained is the 6$ saved on new yeast?

Yes, it is.

For someone who's just had a baby I figured skrimping/saving every penny, would be a plus.

If you use one vial 6 times your investment of time (and effort to learn how to wash your yeast) would offset the time and effort it would take to travel to the local HBS to spend $36.00. Washing ($6) minus buying 6 vials ($36) equals $30. saved.

30 bucks sure buys a lot of Pampers...and will probably make you seem smarter to your significant other in the long run...

And in no time you'll have a cache of baby food jars to save the yeast in...

 

[Gabe]

Smart thinkin. I can just start saving a little of ea yeast cake. and soon enough Ill have every yeast possible.

 

[Glibbidy]

And in no time you'll have a cache of baby food jars to save the yeast in...

I think he's kidding here, under no circumstances would I recommend storing yeast in a baby jar, the mouths are too small, not to mention the volume of the jars.

FWIW gabe both my kids (2 and 3.75) are potty trained now, I'll sell you our old wraps, and cloth diapers at a reasonable price if you are interested. That cost savings alone could help you drive White labs stock thru the roof by buying new yeast every time you brew

 

[Gabe]

Thanks but no thanks on the used cloth diapers glibbidy. Ha Ha. Do you have multiple yeasts saved in your fridge? How often do you start fresh?

 

[cweston]

FWIW gabe both my kids (2 and 3.75) are potty trained now, I'll sell you our old wraps, and cloth diapers at a reasonable price if you are interested.

FWIW, hold onto those diapers: they make the best rags.

We still have a few left around the house and garage, and our kids are 14, 12, and 9.

 

[homebrewer_99]

I think he's kidding here, under no circumstances would I recommend storing yeast in a baby jar, the mouths are too small, not to mention the volume of the jars.

FWIW gabe both my kids (2 and 3.75) are potty trained now, I'll sell you our old wraps, and cloth diapers at a reasonable price if you are interested. That cost savings alone could help you drive White labs stock thru the roof by buying new yeast every time you brew

I'm not kidding.

What baby food jars have small mouths (openings)? Most of them are about 3 inches across (big enough to get a spoon in there). Two of them are smaller than a Coke can if you stack them...and they come in different sizes.

All you have to do is wash and sanitize as you would any container. Plus, their stackable.

First you wash your yeast in a gal jug several times to get it clean. Then I remix the water/yeast mixture into 1/2 liter bottles. Once the yeast falls out again, pour off most of the water and pour the yeast into the baby food jars. Any remaining water will cover the yeast once it falls out of
suspension again.

I use 1 jar per starter.

 

[Gabe]

Im starting to think were on baby talk forums Ha ha ha. Evean if the baby jars are to small their still bigger than a WLP vial ! So making a starter with that amount is stilll better than what WLP gives you! And if thier stackable thats a plus.

 

[Glibbidy]

I'm not kidding.
What baby food jars have small mouths (openings)? Most of them are about 3 inches across (big enough to get a spoon in there). Two of them are smaller than a Coke can if you stack them...and they come in different sizes.

My bad, I thought everyone fed their children Organic baby food like Earths Best. You can barely fit a regular sized spoon in them. Besides, we have moved onto solids.

My preferred vessel of choice for storing yeast is the Green Mountian Gringo Salsa jar.

Thanks but no thanks on the used cloth diapers glibbidy. Ha Ha. Do you have multiple yeasts saved in your fridge? How often do you start fresh?

I have several samples of yeast in the fridge. If I'm making an american style ale, I usually hit my friend up at his brewery for some freshly harvested stuff for FREE.

 

[homebrewer_99]

...I usually hit my friend up at his brewery for some freshly harvested stuff for FREE.

It pays to have a friend in the business.

 

[Cheesefood]

It pays to have a friend in the business.

Do you think a local brew pub would be so generous? If I stopped into Ram (for example) and asked the brewmaster for some of his yeast, would that be rude? I know that most yeast are a carefully guarded secret, but if I built up a repoir with him and let him know that my 5 gallons aren't going to shut down his brewery, think he'd be cool?

 

[Glibbidy]

It pays to have a friend in the business.

No doubt. He converted me from opening cans to AG back in 1999, and I haven't looked back
I used to use only his yeast until i started to fool around with expanding the styles I made. Now I use his yeast in a pinch, or if it correlates to the style that I'm brewing.

Do you think a local brew pub would be so generous? If I stopped into Ram (for example) and asked the brewmaster for some of his yeast, would that be rude? I know that most yeast are a carefully guarded secret, but if I built up a repoir with him and let him know that my 5 gallons aren't going to shut down his brewery, think he'd be cool?

It doesn't hurt to ask.
IMHO it wouldn't be rude, but I would think flattering, as long as you explain your a homebrewer. But then again, I could be wrong.
I would lubricate his conscience with a few bottles of your homebrew on a regular basis. You'd be suprised how far a couple of bottles of beer will get you. He may even show you some valuable pointers!

 

[God Emporer BillyBrew]

Do you think a local brew pub would be so generous? If I stopped into Ram (for example) and asked the brewmaster for some of his yeast, would that be rude? I know that most yeast are a carefully guarded secret, but if I built up a repoir with him and let him know that my 5 gallons aren't going to shut down his brewery, think he'd be cool?

I started to hit mine up but before I could get to asking him, he said that they buy theirs from White Labs in big ol' buckets.

 

[homebrewer_99]

I started to hit mine up but before I could get to asking him, he said that they buy theirs from White Labs in big ol' buckets.

Ask him when's "Rack Day" and take your growler over to get a gallon of the stuff. Even a little bit would help tons.

 

[mysterio]

What you can also do is make a starter with the vial, let it ferment out completely, then decant the mixture into 6 bottles and store them in the fridge, remembering to vent. Then make new starters with the bottles when it's time to brew.

 

[homebrewer_99]

What you can also do is make a starter with the vial, let it ferment out completely, then decant the mixture into 6 bottles and store them in the fridge, remembering to vent. Then make new starters with the bottles when it's time to brew.

If you wash the yeast afterwards there's no need to vent.

 

[God Emporer BillyBrew]

Ask him when's "Rack Day" and take your growler over to get a gallon of the stuff. Even a little bit would help tons.

Hadn't thought of that. Good idea!