Yeast cake.

[brizleciderarmy]

Just a quick question for peace of mind really. I know it's OK to chuck a new kit straight onto the yeast cake of a previous brew. However, when i bottled my Olympic Gold Pilsner 2 days ago, i realized i forgot my bag of sugar for the next kit (duuhhh) and it would be a day or 2 until i get one. Not wanting to waste the trub/cake/sludge i funneled it into a sterilized 2L bottle and wedged it in the fridge.

When i prepare the next kit tomorrow can i just give the bottle a shake and tip it into the mixture and bobs your uncle, or should i take a few days and wash the yeast in the proper manner?

Its a good live batch of S04. Would be a travesty to waste it. I'm a stingebag and don't want to pay a few quid for another sachet

 

[Vossy1]

When i prepare the next kit tomorrow can i just give the bottle a shake and tip it into the mixture and bobs your uncle, or should i take a few days and wash the yeast in the proper manner?

It'll be fine, just let it reach the temp of the kit before adding. Washing is always better if you have the time, a lot of folk don't bother :thumb:

 

[brizleciderarmy]

Allowed it to reach room temp and tipped it onto the wort this afternoon. Should have some nice bitter to keg in 2-3 weeks. Well , hopefully. :drink:

 

[artiums_enteri]

I agree with vossy. Washing the yeast prior to pitching is a much safer bet that just pitching on top of an existing yeast cake. It does not take much time, effort, or additional equipment. Check out northern brewer's brewing TV demo on yeast washing on YouTube and you will be very surprised to see how simple the process is.

 

[Vossy1]

I bet it goes off like a rocket b...keep an eye on that fv

 

[graysalchemy]

Last year I pitched 5 gallons of Barley wine onto a fresh yeast cake from a 12 gallon bitter. The FV was half full but I still managed to lose half a gallon of barley wine :evil: