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Reusing primary yeast for secondary

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McCorkis

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Dec 15, 2011
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Pawtucket
Is it possible. If I switch my primary to the secondary. Wash out the yeast and boil up a half a cup of dme and yeast start it again. And pitch it again. It's a English style strong ale
 
Is it possible. If I switch my primary to the secondary. Wash out the yeast and boil up a half a cup of dme and yeast start it again. And pitch it again. It's a English style strong ale

Yes, it's possible. But I would never do that. If the yeast is already flocculated out, and you're not at the FG, it could be because the yeast prematurely flocculated. Instead of racking, I'd gently swirl to resuspend any prematurely flocculated yeast. Some English strains are highly flocculant- that means clear beer but sometimes it takes some encouragement to get it to finish up.

I wouldn't rack a beer until it was finished. Racking from primary to a clearing vessel ("secondary") before it's done may permanently stall it.
 
Thanks man. I'm new to this and I was wondering if it would bring the grav up and maybe a higher alcohol
 
Thanks man. I'm new to this and I was wondering if it would bring the grav up and maybe a higher alcohol

The alcohol and the gravity are determined by the amount of fermentables initially. You can add 100 packages of yeast, and not get more alcohol out of a batch. The recipe should be formulated to have enough fermentables (the gravity) to provide the proper balance of malt, hops, and alcohol. You do have to use enough yeast in the beginning, though- usually one 11 gram package of dry yeast is enough, but those yeast vials tend to not have enough yeast.

The only time more yeast may be helpful is in the case of a stalled fermentation.
 

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