Using half a vial of liquid yeast?

[WelshPaul]

Since they are not cheap and I'm planning a couple of blends soon, it is possible to open a vial of Whitelabs, decant some of it into a sterile container to warm up to room temperature, and seal the vial and put back in the fridge to use another day?

 

[ScottM]

Not ideal but I guess the theory is fine.

The starter will need to be halfed and doubled up more though.

 

[WelshPaul]

I was thinking more about pitching it directly for smaller batches of under 15 litres, but a starter wouldn't hurt either.

 

[graysalchemy]

Why not just pitch all of it and harvest the yeast for the next one or make up a starter Which you should do anyway for liquid yeasts and then use only half of it. :thumb:

 

[ScottM]

I was thinking more about pitching it directly for smaller batches of under 15 litres, but a starter wouldn't hurt either.

I believe you should always use a starter anyway, with vials that is. They generally don't have enough viable yeast to comfortably manage a 23L batch. Some people use 2 vials, rather than make a starter, which is a waste of money IMO.

As GA says, the best way to go about it is probably to make a big starter and just split it :)

 

[Swift Pint]

yeah, if I'd be tempted to make a yeast starter, pitch half of it, and step up the remaining half. You could even make your first brew 1 litre or two bigger then usual, and use the extra to top up the remaining half of the starter.

 

[LeithR]

I'd go for broke,
Pitch half of the vial - I'd Go with a starter myself and save half as you suggested and once fermentation is established I'd top crop it as well. This way you get the best of all possible worlds especially if you are only doing a 15L brew. I think a half should b enough.
Good luck with it. :thumb: :thumb:

 

[dennisking]

A very popular way is to make a starter and split it 6 ways and make 6 brews.