I always open fermented in a converted 1/2 keg. Usually I used Wyeast german ale 1007 from a huge starter. 11 gallons went in the converted keg with the huge starter, oxygenated, and a lid on it. After 6 days the beer was drawn into 2 cornies and the rest left behind along with the trub on the bottom. Doing this I could draw the beer out from under the pancake of yeast. It worked for years.
Now I have a 7 gallon conical and want to become a yeast farmer. I did one batch of beer using S-04 to see how the fermenter worked. No yeast was floating on the top, it all went to the bottom by the second or third day. I drew it off a couple of times. The second or third day I got 2+ cups of what I think was mostly all yeast.
This time I am using Wyeast american ale 1056. I have mason jars for the harvested yeast. My question is does it get skimmed from the top, or do I wait for it to fall in the beer and draw it off the bottom? I read all the books I could find and still don't know the answer. I also read the sticky on washing yeast. There the yeast was taken from the carboy after fermentation was done. This is what start it all.
What do you folks do?
Brewing on Saturday. I am going to can some of the wort for starters, then be a REAL yeast rancher by monday or tuesday.
I have been hanging around here only a month or two. Holy cow have I learned a lot. Thanks a bunch!
Edit: this is my house ale I usually make with the 1007. I am using 1056 for the first half (still brewing 11 gals), then a different yeast for the second half I am putting in the no chill cube to be fermented in a few weeks. Maybe S-05 so I can compare the same batch.
David
Now I have a 7 gallon conical and want to become a yeast farmer. I did one batch of beer using S-04 to see how the fermenter worked. No yeast was floating on the top, it all went to the bottom by the second or third day. I drew it off a couple of times. The second or third day I got 2+ cups of what I think was mostly all yeast.
This time I am using Wyeast american ale 1056. I have mason jars for the harvested yeast. My question is does it get skimmed from the top, or do I wait for it to fall in the beer and draw it off the bottom? I read all the books I could find and still don't know the answer. I also read the sticky on washing yeast. There the yeast was taken from the carboy after fermentation was done. This is what start it all.
What do you folks do?
Brewing on Saturday. I am going to can some of the wort for starters, then be a REAL yeast rancher by monday or tuesday.
I have been hanging around here only a month or two. Holy cow have I learned a lot. Thanks a bunch!
Edit: this is my house ale I usually make with the 1007. I am using 1056 for the first half (still brewing 11 gals), then a different yeast for the second half I am putting in the no chill cube to be fermented in a few weeks. Maybe S-05 so I can compare the same batch.
David
