[gmac]

I did a 10 gal batch of pale ale yesterday split into two pails.  I had a cake of WLP007 in the fridge.  It had been there about 5 days so it had really settled into a hard cake and I dumped off the remaining beer.  Being the idiot I am, I tried to pour half of it into each fermenter but instead, I brick of WLP007 went splashing into one bucket and there was about a teaspoon of yeast left in the container (probably about as much as in the original tube minus the liquid).  So, it got dropped into the other. 

I am tempted to leave them as is but what do you think would happen.  I can't do anything for the over pitched but I can top crop some over to the under pitched if necessary. 

[duboman]

I'm intrigued to find out how each beer turns out.....staying tuned in for this one

[davidgzach]

Let it fly and see what happens to the underpitched one.  If there is no activity in ~48 hours you can always add more yeast. 

Dave

[ethalacker]

I had a similar circumstance happen to me.  I put a blow off tube on the overpitched fermenter and attached it to the underpitched one.  Both beers came out great.

[euge]

It'll ferment. You might see a big lag. Interesting to see the difference in taste and quality when it turn out. You must report back!

[Mark G]

I had a similar circumstance happen to me.  I put a blow off tube on the overpitched fermenter and attached it to the underpitched one.  Both beers came out great.

I like this idea. It's top cropping without any of the work. And odds are, with the huge pitch on the first half, it will be spewing yeast over within a day or two.

[tygo]

Yeah, blowing off from the overpitch to the underpitch is a great idea.  On the other hand, I would be tempted to let it ride for experimental purposes.

[euge]

I hadn't thought about that approach. I guess theoretically you could just go on forever by timing your batches every three days or so!

Of course this doesn't take into account any mutations and bacteria.

[gmac]

Ok. I will let it ride.
First report is that the overpitched is bubbling frantically with a huge krausen 24 hours after pitching. The under pitched still looks like wort with a few bubbles.
Nothing earth shattering there.
OG on this was 1.058 by the way so it's not a huge beer anyway.

[beersk]

Can't wait to hear the results.

[morticaixavier]

I'll stick my neck out there and make a prediction.

Overpitched will end up with more esters
underpitched will end up with more fuesels and possibly higher TG

[euge]

You could top-crop and screw the experiment! Save the Beer!

[gmac]

After about 36-38 hours, the over-pitched beer has actually started to slow down dramatically.  I think it could be on the way to done but I've gotta pull a hydrometer sample to see.
The under-pitched is actively working and I'm not gonna top crop cause it is going strong but it is probably way behind.  Again, the hydrometer will have to tell the tale. 
I've gotta keg some beer tonight so when I have things sanitized I'll pull some samples but I figured an observation was probably due.

[davidgzach]

I had a similar circumstance happen to me.  I put a blow off tube on the overpitched fermenter and attached it to the underpitched one.  Both beers came out great.

How did you release the pressure?  I'm picturing a blowoff tube from one grommet to another.  If that is the only outlet for each, how did you account for the change in pressure going in to the underpitched batch?  Or am I missing something obvious?  Happens to me sometimes.....

Dave

[DrewG]

How did you release the pressure?  I'm picturing a blowoff tube from one grommet to another.  If that is the only outlet for each, how did you account for the change in pressure going in to the underpitched batch?  Or am I missing something obvious?  Happens to me sometimes.....

Carboy caps would work, methinks. Airlock in one hole and a tube in the other?