General Category > Yeast and Fermentation

Top Cropping

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gmac:
I have a beer that is actively fermenting with WLP007 and it at high krausen right now.  If I wanted to brew another beer and "top crop" the yeast, is it as simple as just skimming the krausen and adding it directly to the wort or do I need to make a starter with the cropped yeast?  Both would be 5 gal batches.

jmcamerlengo:
I reckon you'd need quite a bit of the stuff on top. I'd calculate it out using mr. malty to make sure its enough.  Also be aware that you're selectively harvesting the yeast the is on top which will be the least flocculent stuff, so the characteristics of the strain may change.

repo:

--- Quote from: gmac on May 16, 2012, 07:12:56 am ---I have a beer that is actively fermenting with WLP007 and it at high krausen right now.  If I wanted to brew another beer and "top crop" the yeast, is it as simple as just skimming the krausen and adding it directly to the wort or do I need to make a starter with the cropped yeast?  Both would be 5 gal batches.

--- End quote ---

Yes, but you'll want to skim off the "dirty" top part of the krausen and discard it, then collect the creamy white goodness for your pitch-straight in with the appropiate amount.  Guesstimating how much is something to take note of and after a few times you'll get pretty accurate with how much you'll need. At high krausen I would not worry at all about less flocculant yeast, or any characteristic changes after one harvest. That seems to be about skimming the top of the yeast cake.

slarkin712:
It can be difficult to determine how much yeast you have.  I usually crop the yeast into a quart mason jar(sanitized) and then add boiled(and then cooled) water to fill up the jar.  I shake it up good and then loosen the lid a little to allow some gas to escape.  I put this in the fridge for a day or so to allow the yeast to settle.  I usually have a nice compact cake of yeast on the bottom of the jar.  From there you can estimate how much yeast you have.  And the viability will not be effected too much if you use it in a week or so.

Pi:
What is the benefit of doing it this way? contamination would be my biggest concern. Is the risk worth the reward?

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