Is mixing lager yeasts OK?

[jaginger]

I am brewing a doppelbock this weekend, and i am planning to ferment it on the yeast cake of my Vienna Lager brewed with w34/70. But just for good measure, i was planning to pitch another packet of saflager s-23 (i don't have any more 34/70.)

Is there any problem with having 2 lager yeast strains working on the same batch?


Also, it's my first time re-using an existing yeast cake. My guess is that i just rack of the Vienna Lager (into it's lagering vessel), and then rack the doppelbock right into the fermenter the lager was in.

Is that right?

 

[kanzimonson]

Even for a lager, pitching onto an entire cake seems like overpitching. Adding extra yeast is just unnecessary.

Use Mr Malty to figure out how much slurry you actually need to pitch.

To actually answer your question, there's no problem at all mixing strains - the question is why?

 

[bassbone]

I'm w/Kanzi on this.

There is no problem mixing strains, but if you are pitching onto an entire cake you probably are already overpitching. You basically just made a 5 gallon starter.

Check out mr malty to figure out how much you need for the Doppelbock, and throw out the rest.

 

[jaginger]

OK, thanks for the help on that...like i said, first time, so i didn't even know the process. I'll check out Mr. Malty for the proper rates and see if he's got any more info on the basic technique. No need to mix then.