Yeast Harvesting

[Mike Neilson]

Ok I have just ordered and picked up all the parts I need for my stir plate and 15 test tubes. My thinking is I should start Harvesting Yeast. Is my thinking correct about harvesting yeast? If I have a wyeast smack pack, can I split these up into say 5 equal test tubes and seal them off, when I am ready to make a starter, I just start with a five hundred mls starter, then after 24 hrs increase this by adding an additional 500mls to the flask and then so on untill I hit my desired yeast count as per say Mr Malty? Did I even make sense? what do you guys do to make your Wyeast go alittle further than 1 batch?

[James P]

From my reading of various websites, it seems the yeast lasts longer as well when frozen in this way, saves having to reslant every 6 - 12 months!!

[studio1]

Sweet. Got my 250ml beaker and test tubes today. Got a sterile syringe from Mike at Brewers Coop. where would i find an alcohol lamp?

[denimglen]

labwarehouse.co.nz is where I got mine.

Before I got one I just used a candle, haha, it should do the same thing, mainly just to have some hot air rising to stop crap falling into your workspace.

[James P]

What type of alcohol are you burning DG? Not the good stuff?

[denimglen]

Haha nah, 'Home Brand' Methylated Spirits.

[MrC]

I tried this technique a while back and it worked well. I'm planning on doing it again in the next month or so. I harvested some Coopers Pale Ale yeast, brewed a PA with it then washed it and got two more brews out of it. I didn't have any of those fancy jars though, I just bottled them in Monteiths bottles & capped them.

I've read through the yeast freezing technique a couple of times but I just don't like the idea of glycerine in my beer.

[James P]

I too tried that one Mr Cherry, however the wife hates me having the jars in the fridge....

I'm not sure you would know if you had glycerine in your beer: It is a colorless, odorless, viscous liquid that is widely used in pharmaceutical formulations. For human consumption, Glycerol is classified by the FDA among the sugar alcohols as a caloric macronutrient. Wiki

Of course you have to buy the one that is fit for human consumption!

[denimglen]

I believe glycerin is also used in some IV medicines, so can't be too bad for your health. It's also at the most 3mL per batch so minute concentration in the final beer.

Haha didn't click on the glycerin - explosive link, cheers Nick.

[Reviled]

Are any of you guys washing your yeast?

[James P]

Have done in the past, not so much lately. I have gotten started on slants, but will probably go to freezing it soon enough as it is a lot less of a pain in the arse.

[studio1]

Was perusing labwarehouse and saw they added this to their inventory today - a stir plate for $45!

Hope they add a photo so I can see if it looks any good.

[Reviled]

Shit thats pretty cool! Popular demand aye??