Yeast freezing sanity check

[xygorn]

I tried freezing yeast for the first time this week, following the amalgam of several sets of instructions around the internet. After a 2 day cooling period in the fridge, my yeasties looked like this:

It looks like a much smaller volume of yeast than I intended to put in. I assume this is because I sucked up too much wort while transferring to the vials.

Is it worth keeping vials with this little yeast, or should I chalk it up to a failed experiment, and freeze more yeast out of my primary fermenter?

 

[cmybeer]

You might just have to step up your starters a few times in order to get to your desired pitching levels. I have a freezer full of frozen yeast vials that I have yet to use. Guess I should get on with the experiment and try one.

 

[hopsalot]

What was your original intent? pitch yeast from the vials you froze to a fermentor?

make a small starter then bump it up.

 

[hopsalot]

Did you use glycerin?

 

[xygorn]

I did use glycerin (30%). My intent was to pitch to a stir-plate starter (volume to be decided), and pitch the results into a 2 gal fermentor. But if these yeast will work with a 2 step starter, I would be okay with that.

 

[hopsalot]

I would go for it. I go from a slant to a 250 ml starter then jump to a 500 ml starter then pitch in a 5 gal batch OG < 1.060

You have much more yeast in one of those vials than a slant.

 

[kh54s10]

I have started a frozen bank and have made 4 successful brews from them.

I use 10ml yeast 10ml Glycerin and 20ml water. I have frozen some right away but now cool them in the fridge first.

I make a 250ml starter. Then another 250ml starter. Then if I have a good amount of yeast the looks of the amount in a White Labs vial I make my final starter based on MrMalty amounts.

It has worked very well and I would say I have saved about $20 so far. I have the fifth one in starter right now. I have also used washed yeast and pitched on part of the cake from a previous batch. Much cheaper than new yeast every time.

 

[BBL_Brewer]

Like everyone said, you will just have to do a couple steps to build the population back up when you are ready to use them. Also keep in mind that only 25% or less of the yeast cells will survive the freeze. This is why I like to freeze lots of cells.

 

[beerkrump]

Like everyone said, you will just have to do a couple steps to build the population back up when you are ready to use them. Also keep in mind that only 25% or less of the yeast cells will survive the freeze. This is why I like to freeze lots of cells.

+1

Unless this was some special, limited edition, proprietary strain, I'd toss it and start over. You'd have to step these up at least three, four, or more times to get to the number of cells you would need for even two gallons.

 

[xygorn]

+1

Unless this was some special, limited edition, proprietary strain, I'd toss it and start over. You'd have to step these up at least three, four, or more times to get to the number of cells you would need for even two gallons.

It was a 'special, limited edition, proprietary' strain of S-04 dry yeast from my LHBS, that I am using to refine my ranching skills before freezing anything precious. Of course, a package of S-04 runs about $6-7 here, so I wouldn't mind saving myself the expense.

 

[beerkrump]

It was a special, limited edition, proprietary strain of S-04, that I am using to refine my ranching skills before freezing anything precious. Of course, a package of S-04 runs about $6-7 here, so I wouldn't mind saving myself the expense.

Oh, I am all over that saving $$$! When you wash your yeast, make sure that you get as compact as a yeast cake as you can prior to your final decanting. I cold crash mine for a week. That way you can get rid of a lot of liquid and end up with vials that are 50/50 yeast and liquid

 

[hopsalot]

It was a special, limited edition, proprietary strain of S-04, that I am using to refine my ranching skills before freezing anything precious. Of course, a package of S-04 runs about $6-7 here, so I wouldn't mind saving myself the expense.

Go for it