Brewing off-site, when to pitch yeast

[Mothman]

Still a noob, still reading tons while waiting to collect necessary equipment to brew in the spring/summer...

I've asked this elsewhere but haven't really gotten a definitive answer.

If I brew off-site (at a friends home), then chill, transfer to primary, and transport home (1/2 hour drive)... when do I want to pitch my yeast?

Do I aerate and pitch on-site, immediately after cooling the wort, and transfer home with yeast in-place?

Or do I wait until I get home, then aerate and pitch?

In either case, it's inevitable that the wort will experience some sloshing/shaking/aeration during the transport home.

In either case, is there anything critical in the transport timing once the wort is in the primary..... should I be planning on getting the bucket home and in it's happy place as quick as possible after transferring to primary? Or would it be ok if it was left for, say, up to a couple or three hours after going into primary before I bundle it up to go home? Wondering if the brew day would allow me to spend time at the friends place after brewing, or if I'd want to be heading out asap after finishing.

 

[Special Hops]

I would pitch after chilling at your friends house. Consider the sloshing around in your car extra aeration.

 

[kh54s10]

I would say it makes no difference. The only thing I would not do is aerate, take home after several hours, then pitch the yeast. That way some of the aeration might be gone before the yeast get going.

 

[kramer2500]

If I am brewing offsite, I pitch as soon as I chill and transfer to the primary. I have done this 5 or so times with no issues.

 

[GPP33]

I've only done it the other way.....transfer, drive it home, airate then pitch. Obviously either will work. I choose to do it this way so I don't have to drag the yeast starter to my buddies house.

 

[Mothman]

OK thanks all. Guess the lack of a definitive answer elsewhere was probably because it really doesn't make a significant difference.

Thinking I'll probably go with pitching on-site, just to get things more or less finished up there, and one less thing to do once back home.

 

[Mothman]

Oh, still hoping for a bit of advice on the last part of my question... whether I pitch on-site or once I get home, does it matter if the wort was to sit for some time on-site before being transported?

How time-critical it is to stop with further agitation?

I guess if I pitch once home it really doesn't matter as the yeast will eat up that oxygen anyways. But if I were to pitch on-site, then wait several hours before bundling the bucket up to drive home, during which it will be agitated somewhat, is that a problem?

 

[InTheBasement]

You are worrying way too much about this. I have allowed my wort to sit until the following day before pitching and had no issues. There are people who do no chill brewing who wait for a day before pitching yeast. You will not experience any significant issues with loss of O2 because you aerated and then drove home. Do which ever is most convenient for you, and your beer will be fine.

 

[Mothman]

Haha... I think I may be slightly OCD when thinking about this. I accept that critique.

The delayed transport question wasn't about losing O2 before pitching, it was about adding O2 a few hours after pitching if I pitched then waited (had a brew or two) before it home.

I will RDWHA(H)B.

 

[RM-MN]

The biggest difference may be in the laws of your state. Until you pitch yeast it is simply wort, a liquid with no alcohol. Technically when you pitch the yeast it becomes beer and while it will have no alcohol for hours the definition says it is beer and you are transporting it. Not much to worry about but be aware of the definitions.

 

[GrogNerd]

The biggest difference may be in the laws of your state. Until you pitch yeast it is simply wort, a liquid with no alcohol. Technically when you pitch the yeast it becomes beer and while it will have no alcohol for hours the definition says it is beer and you are transporting it. Not much to worry about but be aware of the definitions.

I agree with this, technically you're transporting a 5-gallon open container

highly unlikely you'd get in trouble, unless you get pulled over by a cop in a bad mood, you should be OK.

I've re-aerated beers 24 hours after pitch with no ill effects. they were high gravity, but I don't think it would hurt a normal-sized beer

 

[Mothman]

Again, thanks all. Hadn't even thought of the open-container issue. haha

Think I'll risk it and hope local RCMP is chill if I happen to have the bad luck of getting pulled over.