Yeast Propagation Tips/Tricks/Insights?

[bmd2k1]

Hi All...

as I continue my new cidering journey something I've found intriguing is getting into yeast propagation...

I've encountered a few posts and watched a couple YouTube videos where peeps took fresh liquid yeast (Wyeast/White Labs)...and with the help of a stir plate and some AJ...created a handful or so of fresh yeast batches...thereby turning one yeast pinch into many. Seems like this is an easier approach than recovering yeast from a just completed batch of cider, washing it and then doing same thing -- though not sure.

So I'd be into hearing any tips/tricks/insights folks have for being successful doing this

Cheers!

 

[flars]

Some good reading on yeast propagation.
https://www.experimentalbrew.com/blogs/denny/old-dognew-tricks
https://www.homebrewersassociation.org/forum/index.php?topic=24460.0 (beginat post #9)
http://www.brewunited.com/yeast_calculator.php

Sometimes what you see in You Tube is not always the best information.

 

[pshankstar]

I do not bother with harvesting yeast, washing it and what not. I use a simple yeast calculator to give me an idea of what I need for my batch (beer or cider) and overbuild the starter. I keep the overbuild portion and place it into a sanitized jar, label it and build it up again when needed.

Take a look at the link and plug in some numbers. It's easy to use and I think this would help you out a bunch.

 

[bmd2k1]

I do not bother with harvesting yeast, washing it and what not. I use a simple yeast calculator to give me an idea of what I need for my batch (beer or cider) and overbuild the starter. I keep the overbuild portion and place it into a sanitized jar, label it and build it up again when needed.

Take a look at the link and plug in some numbers. It's easy to use and I think this would help you out a bunch.

Thanks! For cider which target pinch rate do you use?

 

[pshankstar]

Thanks! For cider which target pinch rate do you use?

I'm no expert with ciders, I have only done three to date. Based on my notes of the two ciders I did without adding anything to the primary when I pitch the yeast, the OG was 1.047 and 1.048. So if you are not adding anything to the primary, you could guesstimate around 1.048. I've pour some of the cider into my tube and tossed the hydrometer in there to see where it was at ahead of time. I hope this helps!

 

[bmd2k1]

I'm no expert with ciders, I have only done three to date. Based on my notes of the two ciders I did without adding anything to the primary when I pitch the yeast, the OG was 1.047 and 1.048. So if you are not adding anything to the primary, you could guesstimate around 1.048. I've pour some of the cider into my tube and tossed the hydrometer in there to see where it was at ahead of time. I hope this helps!

Thanks...was talking about the first drop-down.....which is looking for an intended volume of yeast.....not the SG

 

[pshankstar]

Thanks...was talking about the first drop-down.....which is looking for an intended volume of yeast.....not the SG

HAHA sorry about that. Working, browsing, etc... don't mix well. I always leave it at "Ale - .75 million/ml" since I have only used ale yeast strains on my ciders (like WLP008). Never fermented a cider with a cider yeast.

 

[bmd2k1]

HAHA sorry about that. Working, browsing, etc... don't mix well. I always leave it at "Ale - .75 million/ml" since I have only used ale yeast strains on my ciders (like WLP008). Never fermented a cider with a cider yeast.

Thx! As an aside...what are your fav yeasts?

 

[pshankstar]

Depends on what I am brewing. I have been using OYL-052 for various beers (IPAs, NE IPA & Wheat), WY1318 (NE IPA & Fruit Beer), WLP001 (West Coast IPAs). My favorite dry yeast is BRY-97 for most beer styles. For ciders I have only used WLP008, S-04 and Nottingham. All have been good for the three ciders I have done.