jwalker1140
Well-Known Member
Could someone tell me if this makes sense? I want to brew two lagers in a row, and harvest the yeast from the first batch to pitch into the second. I have a mini fridge and dual stage temp control but I don't keg so both batches will be bottled.
My idea was that I could ferment Batch 1 for ~4 weeks and then bottle condition at room temp. While Batch 1 is bottle conditioning, I would repitch some of it's yeast slurry into Batch 2, which would move into the now-empty mini fridge for fermentation. Once Batch 2 is done fermenting, I would bottle condition it and move the bottles from Batch 1 back into the fridge for lagering. Once it's done, Batch 2 bottles would move in for lagering.
Would this sort of 'leapfrog' scheduling work, or is there a better approach? I think I recall Jamil mentioning that lager yeast doesn't wash/rinse well which is why I want to repitch within a few days (that, and so I don't have to make another huge starter). Sorry if this is a noob question. I've never made a lager before.
My idea was that I could ferment Batch 1 for ~4 weeks and then bottle condition at room temp. While Batch 1 is bottle conditioning, I would repitch some of it's yeast slurry into Batch 2, which would move into the now-empty mini fridge for fermentation. Once Batch 2 is done fermenting, I would bottle condition it and move the bottles from Batch 1 back into the fridge for lagering. Once it's done, Batch 2 bottles would move in for lagering.
Would this sort of 'leapfrog' scheduling work, or is there a better approach? I think I recall Jamil mentioning that lager yeast doesn't wash/rinse well which is why I want to repitch within a few days (that, and so I don't have to make another huge starter). Sorry if this is a noob question. I've never made a lager before.