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Why Harvest Yeast?

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  • Why Harvest Yeast?

    I'm starting a nano and I'm curious as to the best pitching procedure. We'll be doing about 2 barrels a month. I currently use dry yeast about 90% of the time. Sometimes I re-hydrate, sometimes I don't. We will be using inline O2 injection and may only have about a 24-hour lag time before active fermentation is noticeable. Yeast seems to be pretty cheap, comparatively. Should I be concerned with harvesting and re-pitching at the scale I'm starting, or should I just continue with what I'm used to doing?

    Thanks,
    Trey
    Trey Wilson

  • #2
    Dry yeast is cheap (I want to say something like $35 per 500 g, but it's been a long time) but it isn't free. That's roughly the same cost per batch as your grain or hops.

    Harvesting and re-pitching isn't any more effort than hydrating the yeast, and at your scale all it would take is something like a large glass measuring cup, so I'd say it's a no-brainer.

    Edit: I misread that as a 2 bbl system. Why not just contract brew?
    Last edited by a10t2; 06-03-2013, 12:47 PM.
    Sent from my Microsoft Bob

    Beer is like porn. You can buy it, but it's more fun to make your own.
    seanterrill.com/category/brewing | twomilebrewing.com

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    • #3
      2Bbls a month?! So 24 Bbls a year. Why? Repitching yeast is the least of your concerns. Dry all the way new pitch every time.

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      • #4
        2 barrels a month? Just see if you can work out a discount with your local homebrew shop.
        Russell Everett
        Co-Founder / Head Brewer
        Bainbridge Island Brewing
        Bainbridge Island, WA

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        • #5
          Trey you raise appoint that is near and dear to my heart. With the beers we make yeast is the cheapest ingredient. We make big beers with lots of hops in most. the way I look at it is dry yeast is the cheapest ingredient that can cause the greatest damage to your beer. if you use one base malt or the other or can't get simcoe so you use Amarillo it will alter the taste of your beer but won't make it undrinkable. screw up your re-pitching and you've lost a batch of beer. I will probably re-pitch someday but not until I've got lab equipment and a solid background to know how to analye my yeast. I know that there are courses here in Wisconsin at a couple of univeristies on yeast management so I may take that someday. In th emeantime thought its repitch dry yeast everytime.
          Tim Eichinger
          Visit our website blackhuskybrewing.com

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          • #6
            Trey, how often will you be brewing in a given month and in what size of a batch?

            I've had luck when re-pitching directly onto another batch of wort, but when I've tried storing starters for more than a day or two, I've had inconsistent results.
            Kevin Shertz
            Chester River Brewing Company
            Chestertown, MD

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            • #7
              at 2 bbls a month, you will probably have to store your yeast too long to make harvesting worth while. Unless you are using the same yeast in all beers.

              -Kevin
              Corcoran Brewing

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              • #8
                Originally posted by ChesterBrew View Post
                Trey, how often will you be brewing in a given month and in what size of a batch?

                I've had luck when re-pitching directly onto another batch of wort, but when I've tried storing starters for more than a day or two, I've had inconsistent results.
                Plan is to brew two 10-gal batches a week. I have never re-pitched or harvested yeast, so I think I may stick with what I know, at least at the start.
                Trey Wilson

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