mrdauber64
Well-Known Member
Just an update, after 24 hours a nice big Krausen formed so I took my first two yeast croppings off the top. Got a pint jar full of yeast and a smearing on tin foil that is drying in my basement now. The beer is currently fermenting at 76 and rising.
Just wanted to give another update. The beer turned out fantastic! Very fruity and at 9%, very drinkable. I brought a couple bottles to a local brewery, he tried it, and wants to make a batch on his system. I plan on helping him brew it on brew day. I'm pretty excited to brew a batch on a pro scale and have it on tap.
As far as saving the yeast, the tin foil did not work to dry the yeast. Once it dried it was very hard to get the yeast off. After transferring the beer to the keg, I save the yeast 3 different ways.
1. I made a yeast block by drilling holes in an oak block, I dipped the wood in the yeast slurry a couple times to coat it and hung it to dry the yeast.
2. ironed a clean t-shirt to sanitize it and then spread some slurry on it to dry it. After 72 hours or so the yeast and was dry and easily flaked off.
3. poured the remaining slurry in to a quart jar.
I haven't had a chance to use any of my saved yeast, but I'm hoping to use the yeast block sometime soon(hopefully tomorrow)!