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Author Topic: Re-using yeast  (Read 2489 times)

Offline jaftak22

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Re-using yeast
« on: July 18, 2015, 02:54:52 pm »
I have some yeast from a Brown Ale that I wanna use. It is the San Diego Super Yeast strain. My question if it will carry any flavors from the Brown Ale to the IPA. I don't really think it would but I wasn't quite sure. I washed the yeast about two weeks ago. Already know I need to make a starter

Offline mainebrewer

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Re: Re-using yeast
« Reply #1 on: July 19, 2015, 05:13:43 am »
I've never noticed any flavors when reusing yeast and going from a dark beer to a light one.
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Offline Slowbrew

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Re: Re-using yeast
« Reply #2 on: July 19, 2015, 05:40:14 am »
The yeast won't carry extra baggage along.  You've rinsed it and are planning to do a starter so the yeast you are going to use next are all new anyway.   :)

You can run into problems using the yeast cake from a high gravity beer due to the number of worn out or dead yeast cells but no worries in your current scenario.

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Re: Re-using yeast
« Reply #3 on: July 19, 2015, 07:24:19 am »
I would worry more about the damage that you did to the culture by rinsing it with water than any off-flavors from beer.   I cannot emphasize strongly enough how poor of a practice yeast rinsing is when it comes to keeping a culture biologically clean.   Nothing is gained while much is risked.

Just say "no" to yeast rinsing

https://www.homebrewersassociation.org/forum/index.php?topic=19850.msg252492#msg252492

Offline klickitat jim

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Re: Re-using yeast
« Reply #4 on: July 19, 2015, 07:31:10 am »
I would worry more about the damage that you did to the culture by rinsing it with water than any off-flavors from beer.   I cannot emphasize strongly enough how poor of a practice yeast rinsing is when it comes to keeping a culture biologically clean.   Nothing is gained while much is risked.

Just say "no" to yeast rinsing

https://www.homebrewersassociation.org/forum/index.php?topic=19850.msg252492#msg252492
After trying rinsing for about a year, I have to concur 100%

Offline jaftak22

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Re: Re-using yeast
« Reply #5 on: July 19, 2015, 11:28:48 am »
I would worry more about the damage that you did to the culture by rinsing it with water than any off-flavors from beer.   I cannot emphasize strongly enough how poor of a practice yeast rinsing is when it comes to keeping a culture biologically clean.   Nothing is gained while much is risked.

Just say "no" to yeast rinsing

https://www.homebrewersassociation.org/forum/index.php?topic=19850.msg252492#msg252492
After trying rinsing for about a year, I have to concur 100%

I would worry more about the damage that you did to the culture by rinsing it with water than any off-flavors from beer.   I cannot emphasize strongly enough how poor of a practice yeast rinsing is when it comes to keeping a culture biologically clean.   Nothing is gained while much is risked.

Just say "no" to yeast rinsing

https://www.homebrewersassociation.org/forum/index.php?topic=19850.msg252492#msg252492

Ok I think you have finally made me crack. Reading through your post from last year "say no to rinsing", I think that I must change my ways. So most people either top crop Yeast or just pour what's left in the carboy in sanitized mason jars. How long can you yeast using the method of leaving beer, swirling the carboy and pouring into a mason jar?

Offline a10t2

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Re: Re-using yeast
« Reply #6 on: July 19, 2015, 12:42:21 pm »
How long can you yeast using the method of leaving beer, swirling the carboy and pouring into a mason jar?

Try to keep it under a month, ideally a couple weeks. But I've built stored slurry back up after almost two years.
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Re: Re-using yeast
« Reply #7 on: July 20, 2015, 01:47:15 pm »
Try to keep it under a month, ideally a couple weeks.

Great advice!

Quote
But I've built stored slurry back up after almost two years.

I have never taken it out that far, but I have revived a few year-plus crops.
« Last Edit: July 20, 2015, 05:59:10 pm by S. cerevisiae »

Offline johnnyb

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Re: Re-using yeast
« Reply #8 on: July 20, 2015, 03:58:39 pm »
If you don't plan to use the same yeast more than once every couple of months, is the best plan to just purchase new yeast?

Or can you store the saved yeast in the mason jars for more than a month and then make a starter from it?


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Re: Re-using yeast
« Reply #9 on: July 20, 2015, 05:55:27 pm »
If you don't plan to use the same yeast more than once every couple of months, is the best plan to just purchase new yeast?

In my humble opinion, a brewer is better off purchasing new yeast if he/she is not cycling through each of his/her crops at least once every six weeks.

Quote
Or can you store the saved yeast in the mason jars for more than a month and then make a starter from it?

I know that they are popular with home brewers for some reason, but Mason jars are not the best storage container in which to store yeast.  Yeast need to be able to off-gas in storage. I have found that the best storage container for home brew-size crops is a 500ml Erlenmeyer flask with a  No. 7 stopper, and a 3-piece airlock filled with sanitizer just above the holes on the piston (the part that moves up and down).   A case of 6 Corning 4980-500 500ml Erlenmeyer flasks can currently be had $24.68 with free shipping on orders of $35 or more from Amazon. Corning glassware will last a home brewer a life time if not abused.  I have two 4980-500 500ml Erlenmeyer flasks that are over 20 years old.

www.amazon.com/Corning-4980-500-Pyrex-Graduated-Erlenmeyer/dp/B001424QKS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1437436114&sr=8-1&keywords=corning+4980-500




« Last Edit: July 20, 2015, 05:57:42 pm by S. cerevisiae »

Offline Stevie

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Re-using yeast
« Reply #10 on: July 20, 2015, 06:10:47 pm »
I know that [mason jars] are popular with home brewers for some reason...
Unlike lab ware, mason jars don't require a permit in Texas.

Offline quattlebaum

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Re: Re-using yeast
« Reply #11 on: July 20, 2015, 08:35:50 pm »

If you don't plan to use the same yeast more than once every couple of months, is the best plan to just purchase new yeast?

In my humble opinion, a brewer is better off purchasing new yeast if he/she is not cycling through each of his/her crops at least once every six weeks.

Quote
Or can you store the saved yeast in the mason jars for more than a month and then make a starter from it?

I know that they are popular with home brewers for some reason, but Mason jars are not the best storage container in which to store yeast.  Yeast need to be able to off-gas in storage. I have found that the best storage container for home brew-size crops is a 500ml Erlenmeyer flask with a  No. 7 stopper, and a 3-piece airlock filled with sanitizer just above the holes on the piston (the part that moves up and down).   A case of 6 Corning 4980-500 500ml Erlenmeyer flasks can currently be had $24.68 with free shipping on orders of $35 or more from Amazon. Corning glassware will last a home brewer a life time if not abused.  I have two 4980-500 500ml Erlenmeyer flasks that are over 20 years old.

www.amazon.com/Corning-4980-500-Pyrex-Graduated-Erlenmeyer/dp/B001424QKS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1437436114&sr=8-1&keywords=corning+4980-500


I bought some of the plastic lids for my masons and they allow a bit of off gassing compared to the metal ones. I know it's not that perfect but this was some of my local brewery's yeast (blend of BSI-1 and BSI-840) which was VERY active and I could hear it hissing. Maybe I am asking for trouble:) but these masons are pretty darn thick.


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S. cerevisiae

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Re: Re-using yeast
« Reply #12 on: July 20, 2015, 08:44:43 pm »
Unlike lab ware, mason jars don't require a permit in Texas.

Are you kidding me?  A brewer can carry a concealed firearm in Texas, but he/she cannot order simple lab glassware without a permit.  What does not it take to obtain a lab glassware permit?   Is the process more difficult than obtaining a CCP/CCL?   

Offline mchrispen

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Re: Re-using yeast
« Reply #13 on: July 20, 2015, 08:50:33 pm »
It's a law, but not enforced. Serious makes me angry when people pull this out.

The requirement is when folks buy massive amounts of lab ware and to certify they are not making something like Meth. If you get caught distilling or making illicit drugs, the gear will add onto the charges. Most likely your immersion chiller will be called distillation equipment as well.

I have a buddy in law enforcement that laughs his butt off everytime I mention this - so he pretends to blackmail me for beer.
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Offline Stevie

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Re-using yeast
« Reply #14 on: July 20, 2015, 09:07:28 pm »
It's enough that my lhbs no longer sells flasks and if you look at the details on many Amazon listings they note that a permit verification is required.

The process is simple enough with just paperwork and no fees, but you do allow for an inspection of the premises, must update when moving or selling, must report when lost. Processing time is about 60 days.



Full details from DPS here
https://www.txdps.state.tx.us/RSD/Precursor/Forms/index.htm