Yeast Washing Illustrated

[Danek]

So just to check - when you come to use these yeasties, the stuff you want is on the bottom, right? And you'd get rid of the liquid at the top?

 

[Bernie Brewer]

So just to check - when you come to use these yeasties, the stuff you want is on the bottom, right? And you'd get rid of the liquid at the top?

Correct. I leave a little liquid in there, and give the whole thing a good shake to get the yeast back in suspension. It pours out easier that way.

 

[splat]

Ok, just a couple of quick questions.... I have wanted to try this for a while to save money on batches, and Im brewing this weekend, so in about a week or so Im giving it a go...

First question. After you pour your cooled/boiled water into your primary and shake it up do you pour it into your large jar, or siphon it in?

After it settles a little bit in the large jar, do you pour it into the smaller jars/or siphon it... I think it said to try and leave the bottom layer without disturbing it,,,,,I guess that is what makes me think you are going to siphon it...

Oh, one last thing....I end up with a LOT of Trub in the bottom of my primary....I was wondering if that is ok to still wash yeast from....I strain from kettle to primary through a stainless strainer, but there is still an inch or so of trub after a week.... I have heard of guys whirlpooling their wort in the brew kettle before siphoning it into the primary, would this help the trub issue, and make it easier to wash the yeast?

Thanks in advance for the help...

 

[Warped04]

Ok, just a couple of quick questions.... I have wanted to try this for a while to save money on batches, and Im brewing this weekend, so in about a week or so Im giving it a go...

First question. After you pour your cooled/boiled water into your primary and shake it up do you pour it into your large jar, or siphon it in?

After it settles a little bit in the large jar, do you pour it into the smaller jars/or siphon it... I think it said to try and leave the bottom layer without disturbing it,,,,,I guess that is what makes me think you are going to siphon it...

Oh, one last thing....I end up with a LOT of Trub in the bottom of my primary....I was wondering if that is ok to still wash yeast from....I strain from kettle to primary through a stainless strainer, but there is still an inch or so of trub after a week.... I have heard of guys whirlpooling their wort in the brew kettle before siphoning it into the primary, would this help the trub issue, and make it easier to wash the yeast?

Thanks in advance for the help...

I just did my first one and I poured....It's too hard to start and stop a siphon on a dime. If you go slow, all the junk stays behind.

 

[SuperiorBrew]

I used that mini auto siphon and just lined the jars up right next to each other. At first I pinched the hose to stop the siphon but then just decided to move the hose from one to the next with out stopping the flow, that worked fine too.
I had so much suspended yeast I could have poured and not even got close to the trub. (It was fron a 10 g batch)

 

[GlassblowersBrew]

I have some serious noob questions. If I want to use my yeast cake from my secondary to immediately brew my next batch of beer, can I pour the yeast cake back into my primary? If I can, should I do that before or after I pour in my wort? I looked through this thread and didn't find anything. Also, how many times can you use the same strain of yeast while using the yeast cake method? (I am using extract brewing). Thanks.

 

[Bernie Brewer]

I have some serious noob questions. If I want to use my yeast cake from my secondary to immediately brew my next batch of beer, can I pour the yeast cake back into my primary? If I can, should I do that before or after I pour in my wort? I looked through this thread and didn't find anything. Also, how many times can you use the same strain of yeast while using the yeast cake method? (I am using extract brewing). Thanks.

It was on the first page, dude!

Richard, if you are going to repitch onto a yeast cake, don't add the water, just put the wort on top of the cake

.

 

[GlassblowersBrew]

Bernie brewer,
Thanks for your response. My question still is, can I pour the yeast cake back to the primary so I don't have to do my primary ferment in my secondary carboy. I want to ferment in the 6.5 gallon, not the 5. Basically, can I add my oxygenated water and wort to my primary and pitch in the yeast cake as if it were a liquid yeast tube? Does this question make sense?

New question: Can I wash my yeast cake with sterile water, as per the earlier instructions, and pitch directly into my new brew, forgoing the storage? I don't see a need to store yeast if I plan on brewing and bottling the same evening. I'm stuck on ales, so I plan on using the same yeast for a while. I brew evry three weeks. One week in primary, two in secondary, then bottle and brew on the last day of the third week. My thursday night ritual.

Thanks for your help.

 

[Bernie Brewer]

I don't see the need to go the trouble of washing the yeast if you are going to use it right away. I would find a way to get the yeast cake into the primary right from the secondary. Maybe boil and cool just a pint of water, swirl it gently in the yeast cake and then pitch into your primary It's worth a try anyway. Are you using dry yeast? If so I would just use a new packet every time-it's certainly cheap enough. Good luck.

 

[Bombo80]

I washed my first yeasties, this weekend. I actually boiled four pint jars, one half gallon jar, and one gallon jar. I double washed it too, just to make sure. I siphoned off my beer, and then just stirred the whole yeast cake, to get it a bit more fluid. I then filled the gallon jar about half way, and topped it off with sterile water, shook it, and let it settle out for a while. I then filled the half gallon jar, about half way, and topped it off with sterile water, shook it up and let it settle out. Then the last step of filling the pint jars half way and topping off with more water.

I was having trouble getting it to siphon, so I just used my turkey baster to transfer the yeasties from jar to jar. Yeah, I know it was dumb on my part, but I got it done, and I think it turned out very nice. I need to get something else setup to transfer the yeast from jar to jar.

Now that I have done it once, I am going to get a bunch of pint jars sterilized and ready to go. I found a whole case (12) of brand new jars in my cellar, along with 16 others. I think I'll be set for my yeast, down the road.

 

[SuperiorBrew]

I was having trouble getting it to siphon, so I just used my turkey baster to transfer the yeasties from jar to jar. Yeah, I know it was dumb on my part, but I got it done, and I think it turned out very nice. I need to get something else setup to transfer the yeast from jar to jar.

You can just dump right from jar to jar, that is how most do it, I tried the Mini Auto Siphon and dumping from jar to jar and prefered the Mini.

 

[Bombo80]

I dumped from the primary into the gallon jar. I guess I was just trying to stay away from all the top layer of wort, and actually get down into the upper level of the yeast. Pouring into the half gallon jar might be OK. I'll try that next week. I might even get a large syringe to suck them out. I have a SS one that I use for injecting brine into meat for smoking. I bet that would work, and being SS, I could put it in when I'm sterilizing the jars too.

Thanks

 

[EinGutesBier]

I just washed some yeast today. Can anyone tell me roughly how long I have to use it until it's no longer viable? Also, I assume you simply refrigerate these at a standard temperature, not freeze them.

 

[SuperiorBrew]

I think Bernie has used some up to about a year, but he said it took a while to get his starter going on that one.
If you want to freeze them and keep for years then you need to add glycerine and do it like descrigbed here: Guide to Making a Frozen Yeast Bank

 

[Warrior]

It seems to me that there have been quite a few inquiries about yeast washing lately, so since I was racking/washing today, I grabbed the digital camera to illustrate one way of doing it. I have had great success with this method, so I thought I'd share. Here goes:


The only materials that I use besides regular racking equipment is this:
4 pint sized Mason jars w/lids
1 larger container for extra water
1 kitchen tongs
My old boiling kettle from my original brewing kit.

I put all the stuff- lids and all- in the pot and add enough water to cover it:

Boil it for about 20 minutes or so. This will sanitize everything as well as get rid of any oxygen in the water, so the yeasties will take a nice long nap. Then remove the jars and lids with the tongs, keeping them full of water.

Cover all the jars and let cool in the fridge for several hours, or maybe overnight.

Very nice illustration on how to wash yeast. I don't go as far as you are but I usually am re pitching with in 2 weeks of the last brew. I also make a starter from the washed yeast. I'll keep washing the 5 different yeast strains and brewing beer till about the end of April. Next year I'll start with new Wyeast Activator packs and start all over again.

 

[Bombo80]

I just washed a batch of Rocky Mountain Lager yeast. This is my second batch I washed. It worked really nice. I always make sure I have enough water though. I add a gallon into the primary and pour it off, back into the gallon jar. Let it settle and gently dump into my half gallon jar, let that settle, then pour into pint jars. I actually filled two, at first, then added a bit more water, mixed that up, the poured off into the last two pint jars. Works great, and it's very easy.

I might look into the small vials and glycerine, to freeze them,for long term storage.

 

[scottfro]

thanks for the great and simple instructions. i just washed my first yeast cake a nice addition to my other yeast culturing skills.

 

[EinGutesBier]

I think Bernie has used some up to about a year, but he said it took a while to get his starter going on that one.
If you want to freeze them and keep for years then you need to add glycerine and do it like descrigbed here: Guide to Making a Frozen Yeast Bank

Even though it's been over half a week since I washed my yeast there's been something gnawing at the back of my mind. I couldn't find mason jars so I cleaned out a couple of salsa jars. Bear in mind I scrubbed them hard with hot water and bleach dish soap. Then I boiled some water and put it in side, to the brim to let it sterilize them.

Now before I get any responses of "what the heck were you thinking?!" I want to add that I'm okay if this doesn't work out right. I consider it practice if nothing else. But what I would like to know is if, despite cleaning and sanitizing the jars very thoroughly, will that slight salsa aroma ruin the yeast? I'm concerned that if I did use the yeast, assuming the starter works, that it'll leave salsa off-flavors in the beer. Am I worrying over nothing?

 

[Warped04]

Even though it's been over half a week since I washed my yeast there's been something gnawing at the back of my mind. I couldn't find mason jars so I cleaned out a couple of salsa jars. Bear in mind I scrubbed them hard with hot water and bleach dish soap. Then I boiled some water and put it in side, to the brim to let it sterilize them.

Now before I get any responses of "what the heck were you thinking?!" I want to add that I'm okay if this doesn't work out right. I consider it practice if nothing else. But what I would like to know is if, despite cleaning and sanitizing the jars very thoroughly, will that slight salsa aroma ruin the yeast? I'm concerned that if I did use the yeast, assuming the starter works, that it'll leave salsa off-flavors in the beer. Am I worrying over nothing?

I'm no expert....and I don't want to derail you expierementation (which I admire), but I'm going to say if it was me, I wouldn't use salsa jars....if there is a smell, there are remants IMO....Now if it works...W O O T Salsa Beer!

But I'd head down to walmart and spend the $10-$15 on 1/2 pint mason jars (or whatever size you desire) to be sure that you are ok...You can use them for other stuff as well.

 

[EinGutesBier]

I'm no expert....and I don't want to derail you expierementation (which I admire), but I'm going to say if it was me, I wouldn't use salsa jars....if there is a smell, there are remants IMO....Now if it works...W O O T Salsa Beer!

But I'd head down to walmart and spend the $10-$15 on 1/2 pint mason jars (or whatever size you desire) to be sure that you are ok...You can use them for other stuff as well.

Yeah, I'll have to invest in some jars from Walmart. The funny thing is, the jars themselves didn't smell of salsa...and I made sure there was zero residue, so that's not an issue. However, the plasti-rubber linings on the lids are what smelled of salsa. I figure if I make a starter out of them, the yeast will sort of "burn off" any remainder of the salsa odor.

 

[Fire_travels]

well done!!! this process has been bugging me for a while!!!

 

[natefitz]

The whitelabs yeast I pitched into my current brew had a "best if used by date" of December 20, didn't notice till after I pitched February 2. It did start activity at about 48 hours, but I'm wondering if it's worth washing and keeping this cake or if the fact that it was past its prime will affect future generations.

 

[Bernie Brewer]

Should be fine. If the beer smells and tastes good when you rack it, wash away.

 

[EinGutesBier]

Should be fine. If the beer smells and tastes good when you rack it, wash away.

Speaking of smells and tastes, does anyone want to take a shot at answering my question about sterilized, though somewhat tomato-y smelling salsa jars for yeast washing? Will the starter smell like a TexMex restaurant?

 

[Kayos]

2 ?'s

1. The last pic has a jar with the yeast all at the bottom. Can I just get rid of all the other liquid on the top and store in a smaller container like a White Labs vial or even baby food jars? 5 mason jars is a bit much to keep in my fridge if there are a few types of yeasts in there.

2. Is one jar good for a 5g batch, or do you need all 5 jars?

 

[Bernie Brewer]

2 ?'s

1. The last pic has a jar with the yeast all at the bottom. Can I just get rid of all the other liquid on the top and store in a smaller container like a White Labs vial or even baby food jars? 5 mason jars is a bit much to keep in my fridge if there are a few types of yeasts in there.

2. Is one jar good for a 5g batch, or do you need all 5 jars?

It' probably better if you didn't disturb the yeast until you are ready to pitch. But there's no law saying you HAVE to save five jars of washed yeast. If you only want one, just save one. Just know that the more you save, the more batches you will get out of your original pack of yeast. And it doesn't have to be mason jars, either. I just use them because they work well for me. They're small, and I can stack them in the back of the fridge. Some people use baby food jars, or beer bottles.


Oh, and one jar is enough for a starter.

Speaking of smells and tastes, does anyone want to take a shot at answering my question about sterilized, though somewhat tomato-y smelling salsa jars for yeast washing? Will the starter smell like a TexMex restaurant?

One way to find out- give it a shot and tell us what happened.

 

[Finn]

Speaking of smells and tastes, does anyone want to take a shot at answering my question about sterilized, though somewhat tomato-y smelling salsa jars for yeast washing? Will the starter smell like a TexMex restaurant?

That rubber stuff soaks up smells, especially salsa-ish ones, but I'd be very surprised if it harbored any actual biology. I've had used Mason jar lids leave a faint taste of salsa in jars of water I've canned for emergency supplies, but there you're looking at a quart of water, not five gallons of beer, and the smellies were liberated by 10 minutes of boiling with the jar closed up. I'd bet good money you won't ever notice anything unless you've got a great imagination ...

cheers!

--Finn

 

[Homercidal]

Smell does not indicate bacteria, necessarily (of course it might). If you've gone through all of that trouble to clean and sterilize, I'd go for it.

I'm going to try this yeast washing stuff myself.

 

[Kayos]

Just did this yesterday for the first time. All I could think was, "wow, this is easy. I can't believe I am savign $50 x 5 right now". Woke up this morning and the yeast in the fridge looked just like the final pic. Thanks Bernie!!!!

 

[john from dc]

i've used this method twice so far and just made my first starter with the yeast i washed. it's so easy and the starter took right off. i have a feeling this will save me a lot of money.

thanks bernie!