Yeast Washing Illustrated

[dp69_2001]

I love WLP001.

 

[portlandbeergeek]

I've got a quick question about WLP 400. Rather than start a whole new thread....

It's been hot here in Oregon for the past week (up until yesterday). I ferment in my apartment's outdoor utility closet. Saturday evening the ambient temperature in the closet was 88* at 10PM, so I can only assume it was probably up into the 90's earlier in the day. I'm planning on washing my yeast this evening, but I don't know if it's worth it. The super high fermentation temps will adversley affect my current brew, but will the washed yeast continue to make beer that tastes like it was fermented at 90*?

On the other hand, I look forward to lagering this winter

 

[Aubie Stout]

I went to make a starter tonight with my washed yeast. I obviously got a substantial bit of trub when I did this. Now, I got big bits of trub floating around in my starter. Am I OK to use the starter or do I need to ditch it? Doesn't seem too different than pitching on top of an old yeast cake to me......


Thanks,

 

[dp69_2001]

The trub will be fine. If you washed well there won't be enough to change the flavor of your brew.

 

[WortMonger]

Man I love washing and reusing yeast. I have had the same yeast for 6 batches now and just dumped it as spent. That is over a year and 78ish gallons of beer later from one $6 vial of WLP001.

 

[truckmann]

Inspired by you guys I have decided to harvest some yeast myself. I think I got more trub than I want in these using the pour method, but oh well this is my first attempt. I think I'll get one of those mini auto-siphons to make this easier.

This is a W1056. What do you guys think?
Click on the pic for a really close look.

 

[WortMonger]

Whatever!!!! That's really creamy looking yeast.:rockin: What did you harvest that out of (gallons)?

 

[brrman]

very nice! Huge amounts of yeast in those jars! I have washed yeast and it is definitely worth it. I haven't bought yeast in 3 months (50 gallons or so).

 

[truckmann]

Whatever!!!! That's really creamy looking yeast.:rockin: What did you harvest that out of (gallons)?

10 gallon batch of what was suppose to be the centennial blonde. I think it turned out darker than the guidelines for a blond though.

 

[WortMonger]

Dang, that is a assload of yeast right there.

 

[artbrewer]

i was told that you cant wash yeast from dry packets after fermentation.
true or not?

 

[Bernie Brewer]

i was told that you cant wash yeast from dry packets after fermentation.
true or not?

Sure you can. Why would you want to??? They're only about a buck a pack. Hardly worth it to go through all that trouble for just a dollar.

 

[stever]

Thanks for the guide Bernie, with your hard work and the help of a few people in Chat, I washed my WLP001 last night. I have to say this was easy as heck to do and I recommend that if you haven't tried it, give it a shot.

 

[Eastside Brewer]

This thread has inspired me to try it. I have 6 gallons of a 1.080 brown ale in the primary right now. The yeast is wl cal ale. I usually dont secondary, so once I rack the beer off I will try Bernie's meathod. I have a lot of trub and hops in the primary, but it looks like going into the large jar first and letting it settle out and then moving it into the smaller jars will get rid of most of the trub and hops. My question has to do with yeast cell count, If you are going to brew a 1.078 IIPA you will need approx. 587 billion cells according to mr. malty. So would I just use one small jar in a 3500 mil starter on a stir plate to end up with the right amount of cells or is it 2 small jars? Another question is temperature, I am assuming you do not want to cold crash because then the yeast fall to the bottom with the junk, so room temp. 68-70 degrees for the transfers?

Eastside

 

[Tripod]

Beuatiful how-to Bernie! :rockin:

The pictures add so much to the steps! I have read this same procedure many times from other sources but I've always thought "just to complicated for a noobie". Now that I see the photos along side the write up it looks like a no-brainer!

I will no doubt give this a shot. I'll try and remember to take purty pictures too so I can pass the knowlege along. For all who plan on giving future instructions: pictures really do say a thousand words and make the complex seem far less daunting...FOLLOW BERNIE'S EXAMPLE!

Thanks All for the insight. You make the noobies feel well-trained!

-Tripod

 

[schneemann]

Quick question:

I've just done this on 3 batches. 1 batch came out perfect.

Two other batches were rushed and, ultimately it looks like there's a lot more than just yeast in there, though I'm not sure.

These two batches were both extract batches and both run through a strainer before racking to primary. Though I'm not 100% sure, I'm guessing I got good, live yeast and dead yeasties in there as well. Will this be a problem?

 

[Boodlemania]

Going to try this Saturday when I bottle by Weisbier. WLP300 is too pricey for a cheap bastid like me to buy every time. Plus, I plan on keeping the weis on hand so the economics are there for justification!

 

[wildwest450]

Sure you can. Why would you want to??? They're only about a buck a pack. Hardly worth it to go through all that trouble for just a dollar.

Can you say "nottingham", im washing the heck out of this stuff. It hasn't been available for a long time.

 

[AnonyBrew]

Can you say "nottingham", im washing the heck out of this stuff. It hasn't been available for a long time.

Yep. I've already used one jar of washed Notty.

 

[dp69_2001]

Quick question:

I've just done this on 3 batches. 1 batch came out perfect.

Two other batches were rushed and, ultimately it looks like there's a lot more than just yeast in there, though I'm not sure.

These two batches were both extract batches and both run through a strainer before racking to primary. Though I'm not 100% sure, I'm guessing I got good, live yeast and dead yeasties in there as well. Will this be a problem?

Should be fine. You'll probably end up with some dead yeast as well. But, the process of washing will remove most of the dead yeast and other trub material. Be sure to make a starter when using it. That way the healthy yeast can get a head start and boost their numbers to give you a higher success rate.

 

[schneemann]

Should be fine. You'll probably end up with some dead yeast as well. But, the process of washing will remove most of the dead yeast and other trub material. Be sure to make a starter when using it. That way the healthy yeast can get a head start and boost their numbers to give you a higher success rate.

Awesome. Thanks for the response. I def. planned on making a starter.

 

[planenut]

If the primary was crash chilled for 4 or so days, would the yeast still be viable for washing?
Any special techniques for warming to room temperature or the pint jars are from the refrigerator anyway and cool is better?

 

[scottlindner]

I have a question. In the final product, is the yeast settled on the bottom, or suspended on the top in the clear thinned out beer?

 

[portlandbeergeek]

The yeast is on top of the bottom later. The top layer is "beer" (un-useable), it should be poured off. That leaves a thick layer of trub and hops with the yeast lying on top of that. I usually just use the whole bottom layer, as it will settle out with the rest of the trub in primary.



Is washing lager yeast any different than washing ale yeast?

 

[scottlindner]

So if I wait a long time for it all to settle out the, top is just beer and I can dump that. Then I could wash again but this time I wait until 20 minutes and dump the top portion and discard the bottom which is trub. Then when I let this second wash settle for a long period, I poor off the top stuff, and have only yeast at the bottom with very little trub, right?

Scott

 

[illnastyimpreza]

ok so once I get it into the masson jar, its ready to use in my next batch ??? thats it ?? I just pitch it in ontop of the beer like normal ?

 

[Yooper]

ok so once I get it into the masson jar, its ready to use in my next batch ??? thats it ?? I just pitch it in ontop of the beer like normal ?

Well, you'd want to make a starter. Especially if the yeast has been saved for a while.

(Of course, I feel that you should almost always make a starter with liquid yeast, especially White Labs vials)

 

[illnastyimpreza]

how do you make a "starter" ? do you just add a little fresh yeast to your mason jar ?

 

[bearkluttz]

how do you make a "starter" ? do you just add a little fresh yeast to your mason jar ?

Step 1. Locate the search function

Step 2. Search for yeast starter

Step 3. Remember step 1. (its a good one)

 

[illnastyimpreza]

saw that one coming