Yeast Cultivation.

[Little Rock Brewing]

Dipping my toe into cultivating harvested yeast soon.
Is there an alternative to DME for the process?
I haven't got any and forgot to add to my last MM order.
Not available locally and mail order is cost prohibitive, unless part of a big order.

Cheers

 

[MickDundee]

500g for £7.84 on Amazon

Young's Light Dried Spray Malt Extract (DME) 500g Young's Light Dried Spray Malt Extract (DME) 500g : Amazon.co.uk: Home & Kitchen

 

[Little Rock Brewing]

I ordered some from Amazon yesterday and got a refund this morning as the seller wouldn't post to here.
I see this one is delivered by Amazon though, so worth a try.
Even at double the price of Malt Miller!
But is there an alternative?

 

[The Baron]

Is it possible to do a small mash and save the wort to use as a starter culture. I would think you could freeze it so that you have enough for a few starters/culture it would be more cost effective

 

[Brew_DD2]

You can get jars of liquid malt extract from Holland and Barrett.

 

[YeastFace]

Do you have any base malt to do a mini mash with to get the starter wort?

 

[Little Rock Brewing]

Do you have any base malt to do a mini mash with to get the starter wort?

Yep, loads.
Could be the way forward.
Or just get a couple of litres of wort from my next AG brew?

 

[UKSkydiver]

Wilko do DME - or at least I hope that's what it is - as I just used it in my last brew for a starter!

Edit: I may have misunderstood and I see that you're not on the mainland so Wilko may not be available - apols.

Small wort brew as already suggested. Cheers

 

[Little Rock Brewing]

Yeah, no Wilko, Holland & Barrett or nuffink on this little rock!
We can only get a loaf of bread when the cargo ship comes in on a Tuesday!

 

[YeastFace]

Yep, loads.
Could be the way forward.
Or just get a couple of litres of wort from my next AG brew?

Yes, either way is fine. Generally you want a fairly low-gravity wort (1.030 - 1.040 or thereabouts) - I would take this pre-boil and you can always water down to get to the desired gravity.

If you're stepping this up in a bottle, then you don't need much for your first step, but you could freeze the rest, then bring the required amount up to pasteurisation temp before each step up.

 

[UKSkydiver]

Yeah, no Wilko, Holland & Barrett or nuffink on this little rock!
We can only get a loaf of bread when the cargo ship comes in on a Tuesday!

Sounds a bit like Bicester when I moved here from a big city 15 years ago!

 

[Hanglow]

In your position I would make future brews a bit longer and freeze a few litres of wort, preferably from lighter brews. Just water them down to 1.040 or so.

 

[Little Rock Brewing]

Thanks for the replies guys, but I was kind of hoping you were going to say dextrose!

Also thanks for the OG advice, that was going to be the next question!

 

[matt76]

@Little Rock Brewing it sounds like you're sorted now (or maybe not) but yes it is absolutely possible to make an all grain starter, I've done it a few times...

Including a couple of months ago when I discovered my bag of DME had absorbed moisture and turned into a brick!

According to my notes I used 165g Lager Malt in 1L tap water which ultimately yielded 950ml starter wort @ 1.040.

I mashed for 45-50 mins around 66degC (15-30 mins is probably sufficient for enough conversion for a starter)...

Then I boiled for 5 mins to sterilise it before chilling to 20degC in a water bath in the sink.

The trick is how to keep such a small volume warm while you mash - I did mine in a saucepan and put it in the oven set to 70degC

 

[Little Rock Brewing]

Fantastic advice.
Thanks Matt.

 

[User 38108]

For starters

https://bootlegbiology.com/diy/capturing-yeast/
Then

https://www.growforagecookferment.com/how-to-make-a-wild-yeast-starter/
Finally


https://www.beercraftr.com/yeast-washing/


Hope that helps

 

[Little Rock Brewing]

Very useful, cheers!

 

[foxy]

Dipping my toe into cultivating harvested yeast soon.
Is there an alternative to DME for the process?
I haven't got any and forgot to add to my last MM order.
Not available locally and mail order is cost prohibitive, unless part of a big order.

Cheers

At the end of each brew day, pour out the remnants of the kettle into a jug, put it in a fridge to let it settle. Pour into a saucepan bring the temperature up to 80 C and bottle. Keep in the fridge until needed.