Yeast Swap?

[BlackRegent]

I don't know if anything like this has been tried previously but...

I've built up a fair library of specialist yeasts (mainly Wyeast) through overbuilding starters and reserving some in a jar which I keep in the fridge.

It occurred to me that there might be interest in the group to develop a yeast swap programme so that we don't keep buying yeasts where we don't need to.

The way I see it working is as follows.

(1) Members express an interest in participating.

(2) Those who want to participate then create a post listing the yeasts they have "in stock" and this is kept up to date wherever possible. (I keep my list up to date in Brewfather and a screenshot of this list would be sufficient).

(3) As part of their brew planning, a member thinks to themselves that they would like a specialist yeast but they don't have it ('Member A'). They then consult this thread (or another) to see if anyone else has it ('Member B')

(4) If so, Member A messages Member B to see if they would be interested in swapping.

(5) Member B consults Member A's list of yeast and sees if there is anything of interest that they would like to swap.

(6) If so, Member A and Member B arrange the swap between themselves, which can either be face to face (restrictions permitting) or through the post. (I am thinking a jam jar in a jiffy bag here. Seems rustic, but it works for me and it seems to me very unlikely that a jam jar would break in the post. Yeast is also hardy stuff so I doubt that a day or two at ambient temperature would be harmful).

(7) It is done on the basis of reciprocity, so that members should not think they can just blag free yeast. Of course, members can choose to provide it without getting anything in return, but that should not be assumed.

(8) It is done in a good natured spirit, so there is never pressure on Member B to swap, for example if there is nothing within Member A's stocks that interests them, or they don't have the time, or they just don't want to.

What does everyone think?

 

[Oneflewover]

I think that it's a cracking idea in principle, just not sure if it'd work in practice. I'd be interested in principle, but possibly through culturing up dregs from a bottle swap?

 

[BlackRegent]

I think that it's a cracking idea in principle, just not sure if it'd work in practice.

@Oneflewover
What do you think are the main challenges?

 

[Oneflewover]

@Oneflewover
What do you think are the main challenges?

To be honest my chief reservation is about how the yeast has been harvested, stored etc. I've used yeast that I've perhaps managed in a somewhat sloppy manner and not had great results. It's just that after investing time, effort and money in getting a wort I want to feel assured about the yeast quality / strain etc. Like I said I think it is a great idea though, and I'd definitely want to express an interest

 

[BlackRegent]

@Oneflewover
Fair point and I agree that there is some trust involved as it depends on everyone showing some care and attention in creating the donor yeast. However, I was working on the assumption that anything received would need to be cultured up into a starter as the contents of a jar wouldn't be enough for a typical brew. You would be able to see at that stage whether the yeast is effectively dead or is behaving oddly, so hopefully no lost brews.

I know there is a theory that you shouldn't recycle yeast beyond a few generations, but I don't subscribe to that view (neither does Brulosophy) and it seems to me that the risk is minimised where the yeast is harvested through overbuilding a starter (where the conditions for the yeast should be very similar) rather than harvesting a yeast cake after a full fermentation of a very specific beer style.

 

[Leon103]

Like others good idea in principle but people really need a good approach to propagating yeast. I have had a few yeasts off members in the past. Often just dregs of trub or overbuilt starters but none have worked out well with the beers having issues linked to the yeast.

 

[BlackRegent]

@Leon103
I had assumed this would be of most interest to those with stir plates and erlenmeyers. I don't want it to be an exclusive group, but at the same time I'm on board with the view that it needs to be done properly.