Can I reuse yeast after a month in primary

[EMH5]

Hi Everyone,

I am new to brewing and I plan on harvesting and washing yeast for the first time. I brewed May 31st using a Wyeast 1318 (which I understand now is a top crop yeast but I just found that out). Anyway I let this brew sit in primary and dry hopped longer than I usually would because of time (I went on vacation) but I have read that beers can sit in primary for a while without ill effects so I’m not worried about the beer flavor.

Anyway I wanted to harvest and wash this yeast when I bottle tonight and wanted to see what you all thought.

Do you think it is too late to harvest?

I figure there’s no harm in trying. Anything I should look out for?

Eric

 

[oljimmy]

Definitely fine. As I understand it, this is no different than buying liquid yeast that's a month old: you produced it a month ago, which means its viability is still fine.

 

[andrewmaixner]

Yes. you don't necessarily even need to wash it, unless there is major trub that you want to remove.

 

[The10mmKid]

Go for it Eric.

If you're planning to brew within a week with a similar beer, skip the rinsing.

If not, practice the rinsing . . . . . it does take some skill to perfect.

Brew On!

 

[eric19312]

Yes

I do it all the time. Many threads on here about harvesting, cleaning, collecting and storing yeast. I go with simple is better. Store a whole yeast cake in a growler under beer, decant, resuspend and pitch a quantity dependent on age of the cake. Sometimes make a starter, but not always especially with yeast less than 2 months old.

Lots of people avoid using yeast if the prior fermentation was a high IBU beer, if you used dry hop in the primary, or if it was a high ABV beer.

For me main issue was if I was very happy with the fermentation of a batch I am happy to reuse the yeast. Did it attenuate and flock as desired for this strain and did I detect any off flavors in the young beer (grav sample maybe) or finished beer that fall in the category that makes me worry about fermentation issues.

 

[EMH5]

I'll taste the batch tonight, check OG but I think it'll be fine. Aimed for a 6.5 ABV IPA, I did dry hop w/ 2 oz (7 oz total - 5 gallon batch) so there will be a fair amount of sludge so I probably should rinse and wash this yeast, right?

I'm looking forward to harvesting for the first time though.

This yeast fermented fast and blew a bit out of my blow off tube too so I'd really like to use it again.