re-using yeast from secondary

[fireloo]

I've heard conflicting information on re-using and pitching yeast saved from the clearing tank. One person says these are the heartier yeast that are the most desirable and should be cultivated for re-use.
Another says that only yeast from the primary should be re-used.
I realise that the smaller number from clearing may need to be cultivated as a starter. Given that, is there a valid argument for not harvesting yeast from "secondary"?

 

[TheJadedDog]

There are a few reasons people give for not harvesting the yeast from the secondary. First, there is less yeast in the secondary to harvest. Second, the yeast in the secondary is not as flocculent and flocculation affects your beer. Over time, the yeast will mutate and if you are always cultivating from your secondary you will end up with yeast that don't flocculate much at all which is not good.

Personally I always harvest from the Primary although I am far from an expert in the matter.

 

[DeathBrewer]

i've been contemplating something lately...what if i did it old OLD school and brewed the same day i racked another brew to a secondary, then just dump the cooled wort on top of the old trub...would it get some good yeast and just go at it?

Let me know what could wrong with this. just wanted to try it as an experiment but figured i should get some more knowledgeable input first

 

[Yooper]

If you're talking about racking a beer to secondary and putting the new cool wort on the trub in the primary, we do that all the time. You can get some violent and quick fermentations that's for sure! I wouldn't do it more than one or two times, though, without washing the yeast. (Do a search for yeast washing- there are tons of threads!)

 

[DeathBrewer]

awesome. thanks, i'll run a search.

looks like i might make a run of beers!

 

[krispy d]

remeber if you are not washing your yeast always go rom lighter beers to darker beers to hide the colors and flavors that will undoubtedly be caried by the trub that is accompanying your yeast cake.

 

[DeathBrewer]

cool. thanks for the advice, anything else i should know?

how about makin a weisse bier and then a dunkel?

Sorry to hijack the thread