Sanke Fermentation: Yeast/Trub Harvester build

[maierhof]

lol

 

[maierhof]

Ok - I have finally taken my beer out of the conditioning phase and it is THE most clear beer that I have made yet. Wahoo!!!

The first pic I took in the garage and it just didn't show the clarity well - so I pulled it into my office. The old pic is in the background.

Loving this thing!!

 

[maierhof]

Did another batch again this week... again it worked flawlessly both times.

All I did was attach my racking cane into the hole on top of the fermenter, add pressure to fermenting keg, attach disconnect to harvester and wait until no more schtuff comes through the tube, then disconnect from harvester and attach to serving keg and fill... easy.

See attached:

 

[dunbruha]

This looks cool--very elegant. Well done!

What is the advantage of collecting the yeast without oxygen, though? You are just going to spin the heck out of it for a starter, right?

 

[helterscelter]

This looks cool--very elegant. Well done!

What is the advantage of collecting the yeast without oxygen, though? You are just going to spin the heck out of it for a starter, right?

I would think a sealed sanitary transfer is a pretty good advantage. Always good to limit infection/contamination exposure.

 

[maierhof]

This looks cool--very elegant. Well done!

What is the advantage of collecting the yeast without oxygen, though? You are just going to spin the heck out of it for a starter, right?

Helterscelter nailed it - less contamination, less mess, less hassle. It is just easy to do this with the yeast then I just stick the whole thing in the fridge for a few weeks until I need to brew again.

 

[maierhof]

This looks cool--very elegant. Well done!

Thank you!!

 

[dunbruha]

Helterscelter nailed it - less contamination, less mess, less hassle. It is just easy to do this with the yeast then I just stick the whole thing in the fridge for a few weeks until I need to brew again.

OK. I also ferment in a sanke, but I use a sanke tap with a picnic tap attached to the liquid port for sampling. (I replace it with a hose when I pressure transfer to another keg). When I do a pressure transfer, only the section of trub\yeast that is right around the spear is transferred. Do you do anything to collect more of the yeast, or do you just take the stuff around the spear?

 

[maierhof]

You ferment in sankes too - nice to hear.
Taking hydrometer readings during a lager are much easier for you that is for sure....

That is a good point. I actually collect three jars in total.

First - the trub/yeast draw in the initial transfer from around the spear to serving keg - just right for another 10g batch in my opinion.
Second/Third - the final yeast and trub washing process

I wash down my remaining trub and yeast by pouring in about 2-3 jars full of boiled/cooled water into the sanke. Then swirl it around a few min and then push what I can into the jar. Then I take off the pressure top and replace with a normal jar cap and I can be done. Or I can pour, swirl, wait, pour swirl wait too... depending on how much effort I need to put into it that day. =;>

 

[dunbruha]

You ferment in sankes too - nice to hear.
Taking hydrometer readings during a lager are much easier for you that is for sure....

That is a good point. I actually collect three jars in total.

First - the trub/yeast draw in the initial transfer from around the spear to serving keg - just right for another 10g batch in my opinion.
Second/Third - the final yeast and trub washing process

I wash down my remaining trub and yeast by pouring in about 2-3 jars full of boiled/cooled water into the sanke. Then swirl it around a few min and then push what I can into the jar. Then I take off the pressure top and replace with a normal jar cap and I can be done. Or I can pour, swirl, wait, pour swirl wait too... depending on how much effort I need to put into it that day. =;>

Thanks for the info. I don't harvest yeast right now (I just build a bigger starter), but I'll keep this build in the back of my mind.