[roguejim]

My LHBS is charging around $4.50 each.  Is this high?

[euge]

My LHBS is charging around $4.50 each.  Is this high?

Yes!

I pay $2.75 now and it used to be $1.50 a couple years ago. But aging so were hops...

[a10t2]

If you have a vacuum sealer, you could buy the 500 g bricks. They run about the equivalent of $1 a sachet.

[1vertical]

If you have a vacuum sealer, you could buy the 500 g bricks. They run about the equivalent of $1 a sachet.

Sean, how long does this keep in vacuo?? I want a goodly stash of s-189,

[tomsawyer]

My LHBS is charging $3.75 for US05, $3.50 for S04.  Since the price hike I mostly just spend an extra few bucks and go for the liquid yeasts, although I keep a pack of each on hand for emergencies.  I reuse yeast so it generally ends up only costing a buck or so a batch.

[Hokerer]

I've got the best deal.  Free from the slant in my fridge (actually 1056, not US-05, though).  Also, 1450, 1084, WLP023, 1007, 3068, & 1214.

[a10t2]

Sean, how long does this keep in vacuo?? I want a goodly stash of s-189,

The rule of thumb is that vacuum packed and at refrigerator temps, viability drops by 4%/month. I don't know that I agree that that's accurate, or at least that it's constant. Our stash of dry yeast at the brewery is closing in on its 2-year date, and I'm not picking up any of the off-flavors I'd expect from pitching yeast that was only ~40% viable. With two years being the published expiration date, I'd say you should be fine for at least that long.

[tomsawyer]

So its around $50 a brick?  You'd probably spend that much more on the vacuum bags.  That'd take you upwards of $2 a pack.

I've got the best deal.  Free from the slant in my fridge (actually 1056, not US-05, though).  Also, 1450, 1084, WLP023, 1007, 3068, & 1214.

How long does it take to raise up a batch from a single colony?  I'd expect you would need to really plan ahead.

[denny]

Around $3.95 at my LHBS.

[roguejim]

I've got the best deal.  Free from the slant in my fridge (actually 1056, not US-05, though).  Also, 1450, 1084, WLP023, 1007, 3068, & 1214.

How much do you spend in DME to increase the population to a pitchable size, i.e., equivalent to a Wyeast smack pack?

[Hokerer]

How long does it take to raise up a batch from a single colony?  I'd expect you would need to really plan ahead.

With a slant, you're not raising up from a single colony (that's usually what you use plates (petri dishes) for).  I grab a couple of loopfuls from the slant and put it into a 12ml vial with 10ml of wort in it.  Give that a day and then dump that into a quarter-pint jar of wort.  Give that a day and then dump it into a 500ml flask along with an additional pint of wort and stir plate it.  Give that a day or two and then dump it into a 2L flash along with an additional quart of wort and stir plate it until ready to brew.

So all in all, maybe about a week.

[Hokerer]

I've got the best deal.  Free from the slant in my fridge (actually 1056, not US-05, though).  Also, 1450, 1084, WLP023, 1007, 3068, & 1214.

How much do you spend in DME to increase the population to a pitchable size, i.e., equivalent to a Wyeast smack pack?

$0.00.  I don't use DME for anything.  My starter wort is whatever's left over after I brew a batch (pressure canned).  Just happened to be talking about that earlier today in another thread... http://www.homebrewersassociation.org/forum/index.php?topic=5414.msg65747#msg65747

[tomsawyer]

I figured it would take a week, I was freezing small amounts (2ml) of yeast for awhile and it would take a good week to get them grown up too.

I use 90g of light DME for a 1L starter thats 1.030.  At $4/lb thats about $0.80 per starter.

[roguejim]

I've got the best deal.  Free from the slant in my fridge (actually 1056, not US-05, though).  Also, 1450, 1084, WLP023, 1007, 3068, & 1214.

How much do you spend in DME to increase the population to a pitchable size, i.e., equivalent to a Wyeast smack pack?

$0.00.  I don't use DME for anything.  My starter wort is whatever's left over after I brew a batch (pressure canned).  Just happened to be talking about that earlier today in another thread... http://www.homebrewersassociation.org/forum/index.php?topic=5414.msg65747#msg65747

Thanks.  Wow, now I'm intrigued.  I have to admit that it sounds a bit daunting not having ever done it though.  I'll read the other thread.  Can you recommend a book or tutorial laying out the process of making a slant?

[Hokerer]

Thanks.  Wow, now I'm intrigued.  I have to admit that it sounds a bit daunting not having ever done it though.  I'll read the other thread.  Can you recommend a book or tutorial laying out the process of making a slant?

It's pretty simple really.  Kai's site has some good info...

http://braukaiser.com/wiki/index.php/Making_Plates_and_Slants

...and the one main thing I do differently is that I don't mix the agar up and then put it into the vials like he describes.  For me, the agar would start to solidify too early and clog the syringe.  Instead, I measure 0.25 grams of agar powder into each vial and then add 5 ml wort.  Do as many as you want that way and then continue on with the process he describes.