S04 just kind of loses it's S04-ness. I find it just gets a bit different. Nicer. Bit hard to explain though.
I fill a sanitised jar with fermenter dregs, just through the fermenter tap. Then I bung it in the fridge. About a day before pitching I chuck some wort in, maybe 500ml to kick it up. When it's at krausen I pitch.
I prefer the 2nd gen of 05 over the 1st. The 3rd is better too - but I dont go further than that. It means that you have to brew with the same yeast 3 times in a row - but for what I brew, it's fine. I don't use much else than 05 when you look through the old brewing records.
The usual comment is not to repitch a dried yeast, the risk vs cost isn't worth it ?"
Every single packet of US-05 ive ever brought I have had at least 3 pitches out of!! Some times if im feeling lazy/poor ill go up to 5 pitches, never had any problems, in fact my winning WBC IPA was a 4th gen pitch, dumped the wort onto about 3 litres of trub and yeast cake, came out awesome!!
Based on the venerable Tasty McDole's famous APA recipe. However, I was slightly short on the bittering hop addition so I'm giving it a slight (probably undetectable) Kiwi accent.