Top cropping

[Ian...]

Hi Folks
I'm reading a book on yeast at the mo and it mentions top-cropping. This is when you scoop up some of the Krausen to reuse in another brew. Has anyone tried it, and if so, what were the results. Opinions welcome.

Ian

 

[adomant]

It's the best way provided you are going to pitch it again soon

 

[wilsoa1111]

its great, if u have a healthy brew sanitise stuff and pop the yeast out- after the initial nasty scum has coated the inside of the fv and ideally before the ferment is complete, bung it in a jam jar plus minimum 50/50 sterile water and u have some washed yeast, keeps as long as washed yeast in my exp, just got a top cropping belgian yeast just cos it saves messing with yeast washing, cant wait to test em out :

fyi i think some strains are better suited than others but good reliable way to make ur yeast last longer

 

[oz11]

You don't even need to add sterile water, just top crop and pitch into the next brew, try not too scoop up too much brown scum/non-yeast matter. You can even remove the first yeast crust that forms, then when it re appears use the second one - this is better since it contains less non-yeast debris than the first one. Best practice is to use it within a few days, but it will keep for a couple of weeks if refrigerated (with decreasing viability).

 

[Hawks]

I have just pitched some WLP023 that was top-cropped a couple of weeks ago and kept in the fridge. As it was a bit old I just made a starter over the weekend to get it cracking again.. :thumb: