What would you do?

[eadavis80]

I'll be brewing 2 beers that both use WYeast 1098. The first is AIH's Vanilla Porter with a target OG is 1.056 and the other NB's Brickwarmer Red a little higher - 1.062. I will also be brewing NB's Winter Spiced ale with a target OG of 1.047. If I want to use 1098 on all 3, can I pour the wort of the Winter Spiced directly over the cake of either of those other brews? Does it matter? Or would that be overpitching big time?

 

[ss4ivan]

Yes, you would be overpitching. You can harvest yeast one of two ways. Wash the used yeast from the yeast cake left over from your previous brew...or if you have the ability to make yeast starters, an easier method is to make a 1 Liter starter of 1.040 wort for each batch, harvest .5 Liter each time in a mason jar for the next batch and pitch the other .5 Liters into your current batch. Repeat and enjoy.

 

[Todd820]

or if you have the ability to make yeast starters, an easier method is to make a 1 Liter starter of 1.040 wort for each batch, harvest .5 Liter each time in a mason jar for the next batch and pitch the other .5 Liters into your current batch. Repeat and enjoy.

I would second this approach. Ensures you end up with the yeast counts you want and clean, healthy yeast.

 

[flars]

Saving part of a starter for the next batch of beer works well. Here is a calculator to help with the numbers to make sure your first over build starter is large enough.
http://www.brewunited.com/yeast_calculator.php

 

[eadavis80]

I harvest and wash all the time, so I was just curious if not going through all the steps and just dumping wort on the cake would be okay, but I guess I'll just wash and make the starter as usual - no big deal. Thanks.

 

[Sailingeric]

I pour the slurry from my batches into a pint canning jar and when I am ready for my next brew I just pitch that, never a problem, no off flavors, and get quick start to my fermentation, but YMMV.