yeasties

[Mark1964]

how do you harvest the yeast cake from a former brew and probably more importantly how do you store it and how long is its shelf life :

 

[Baz Chaz]

Have a looky here ............

viewtopic.php?f=30&t=4406

 

[craigite]

I do this all the time but it seems from posts I do not follow standard practice.

Read somewhere day three of fermentation in the best to harvest.
If the head on the brew is lovely and thick, simply remove the lower section of the head and put it into sample jars. I use small 50 ml sampler tubes similar to what the doctor might give you for a sample :shock:
I make sure they are sterilized and proper full, then store in the fridge. Every few days release the pressure in the samples or the lid will pop :?
This works for me on stronger brews.

For lighter brews at about 3% I do not get a yeast head suitable to harvest so I rack the brew at day two to get rid of the gunk, then after the brew has fermented out I rack again. I then bottle up the yeast from the bottom of the fv and store the same way. this way has the added bonus of there being a little beer in the sample that must help keep it fresh.

I use a two litre sample with 100g dme about 1-2 days before brew day. Every three months I repeat to keep fresh stock. I never use the last sample before I harvest more incase the new batch gets infected.

Been using the current yeast which I harvested from a bought bottled conditioned brew for about 18 months :party:

 

[Mark1964]

Thanks chaps now i know how :

 

[evanvine]

To ensure that your yeast strain remains true you will need to acid wash. (clicky)
I also freeze my yeast cultures and have had no problems, even after a year +.

 

[highwayman]

They are all very different..I have used Dried and Liquid... I get the best result with the Liquid Yeast...but dried is much less easier to use and takes a lot less time...May I also resurrect this How to ..posted back in 2008 by a MEM on culturing a Liquid Yeast:-
http://www.thehomebrewforum.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=30&t=155&hilit=yeasts

 

[Aleman]

To ensure that your yeast strain remains true you will need to acid wash. (clicky)
I also freeze my yeast cultures and have had no problems, even after a year +.

I'll say again that Ant Hayes method is not best practice . . . I have posted here a correct method . . . link

 

[evanvine]

I'll say again that Ant Hayes method is not best practice . . .

You are no doubt perfectly correct Tony!
I use my own version of Ant Hayes technique.
This involves a lot more washing in "distilled" water, both before and after the acid bit.
I do keep it in the fridge, but don't bother using a "mag stirrer".
When it comes to freezing there is very little acid left.
Possibly the only thing I have in common with you and AH is the pH!
Probably I'm very lucky to get away with it, but the yeast consistantly survives

 

[Mark1964]

so how much yeast would i use to start a 5 gal brew

 

[Aleman]

Mr Malty Knows the Answer

 

[Mark1964]

ok ill calculate it next time :