Yeast Starters from Bottle Conditioned Beer

[rinhaak]

A quick question on culturing the yeast from a bottle conditioned bottle of beer:

If I'm brewing a high gravity beer, do I need to take a yeast from a high gravity beer? What about low gravity?

Basically, I'm looking at brewing a very low alcohol Belgian Pale Ale (trying to clone Magnifico from Pretty Things), and I'm considering taking the yeast from a bottle of Fluffy White Rabbits. (Sadly, Magnifico was never bottled). FWR is an 8.5% abv, while my pale is going to be 3.5%. Will the yeast have trouble adjusting to significantly less food? (aiming for as low as 1.035 OG).

 

[ChillWill]

It won't have any problem but it's far from ideal and you may struggle to get a culture on the go in the first place.

Are there no whitelabs options that are close to what you want?

 

[Canada2012]

I won't worry about it too much if you are just experimenting with yeast. It would be harder to go the other way. Who knows what will come of it. May turn out to be fantastic.

The yeast can only consume what sugars that you give them. Good luck.

 

[rinhaak]

Are there no whitelabs options that are close to what you want?

Not that I've found. My original plan was to use 1214, and I still might if this fails. But Pretty Things uses their own yeast strain, so I think the only way to get close to it is to take it from their own beer.

 

[TimTrone]

You can do it. I would build it up quite a bit in a multistage starter

 

[SmallBatchBrew]

I'd try culturing from Jack D'Or if you wanted Pretty Things yeast. If you want a brewery's yeast it's a good idea to get it of of their flagship. It's the best way to get the freshest yeast you can.

 

[rinhaak]

You can do it. I would build it up quite a bit in a multistage starter

Forgive me, but how would a multi-stage starter work? I'm not familiar with it. I've always done just a single starter for three days.

 

[rinhaak]

I'd try culturing from Jack D'Or if you wanted Pretty Things yeast. If you want a brewery's yeast it's a good idea to get it of of their flagship. It's the best way to get the freshest yeast you can.

That's a good idea. I think, though, that it's a Saison strain as opposed to a tripel. I could try it, though. Could be interesting.

 

[TimTrone]

Forgive me, but how would a multi-stage starter work? I'm not familiar with it. I've always done just a single starter for three days.

Make a starter with the dregs from one of their bottles. When it's done, decant it, and then make another starter with the yeast you grew. Each time you do another stage of the starter you get more and more yeast. Keep it sanitary, and you'll be good.

 

[khugs21]

i have always heard it is best to harvest yeast from a brew with a lower abv. The yeast is under less stress. I just harvested yeast from the dregs of a ommegang witte. Its been on the stirplate for about 24hrs and I am about to step it up tomorrow. Its looking good so far!

 

[TimTrone]

i have always heard it is best to harvest yeast from a brew with a lower abv. The yeast is under less stress. I just harvested yeast from the dregs of a ommegang witte. Its been on the stirplate for about 24hrs and I am about to step it up tomorrow. Its looking good so far!

Ideally it is. I prefer not to harvest anything over 10abv. If the beer you want to do it with is 8.5 you'll have no problem. Do a multi stage starter though so you'll have plenty of healthy and happy yeast.

 

[SmallBatchBrew]

That's a good idea. I think, though, that it's a Saison strain as opposed to a tripel. I could try it, though. Could be interesting.

I'd contact Pretty Things and ask them directly about it. What strain a brewery uses for what style can vary quite a bit. For example, The Bruery uses the same strain for their Saisons and their other Belgian styles, the difference being fermentation schedule.