Yeast storing methods

[CaptainEBC]

We have been using our White Labs containers to store our yeast in but we want to move to a more sterile and easier system. We have used 3 gal corny kegs too, but the little fittings are hard to keep clean.

What are some better containers? Our fermenters are 6bbl capacity.

[CopperKettle]

We use stainless milk pails. Ours are 3 gallon capacity and have tri-clamp fittings. We got them from mile high distilling, they use them for boil kettles. They also have larger sizes. For our 3BBL fermentations I gather 10-15 lbs of slurry which is usually between 1.5-2.5 gallons.

http://www.milehidistilling.com/Stil...-still-s/4.htm

[Graydon]

Chris,

The easiest way is to remove the spear from a Sankey keg, cut the fitting off the top of the opening, and press a 2" tc fitting into it. The tc fitting can then be welded (sanitary weld), and a tc end cap can be fitted with a 3/4" SS tube to the bottom of the keg and a short 1/4 tube for co2.

Collect yeast store in cold room and use co2 to pitch it in line.

I have done this many times and seen at many more brewery's.

If you have ?'s send me a pm I would be glad to talk about yeast storage.

Graydon

[fa50driver]

I basically re-purposed my homebrew fermenters from Sabco. Beer nut to tri-clamp adapter on all fittings (racking arm and top), then push out yeast with CO2 or O2 with a triclamp to air hose adapter on top. Makes for a closed transfer in and out. Kind of pricey, but easy to fill and empty (and clean).

http://www.brew-magic.com/fermenter.html


I also used 10 gallon corneys in the past but had to tip them upside down and use them in reverse because the dip tube would plug with yeast. They also need to be stripped apart completely between uses because they are pretty hard to keep clean.

[CaptainEBC]

CopperKettle:

I like those milk cans. What size would you recommend for holding 6bbl pitches. We pull from one tank, count cells, store and pitch into just tank.

[CaptainEBC]

I'm debating between buying 2 3-gal or 1 8-gal. The 8 seems like it would have a lot of head space for the volume of yeast.

[SRB]

We use a 13 gallon SS milk can. We harvest anywhere from 15 to 30# of yeast depending. We top crop, so the extra space is needed.

We just have a cap lid......lovin' the tri-clamp top option!!

batch 148 yesterday and no problems associated with our yeast storage system to date.

[chaser]

http://breweryparts.com/index.php/eq...opagation.html

one of those or make one yourself. I used to do props out of the lab in milk containers. 27 gallon or so container, propping up to around 65#. In a pinch I would harvest in to them, but it's definitely not as sanitary as using the keg system. Lifting the milk containers up to the manway wasn't much fun for our size tanks.

[CopperKettle]

If you get the milk pails I would get 8 gallons for 6BBL ferms. You should be collecting 3-5 gallons of slurry, the head space is not an issue. If anything it lets you add a few quarts of sterile wort so you can store the yeast longer before the next use.

[fa50driver]

Those milk cans are way cool - but personally I would rather have a closed system to collect and pitch.

The system from GW kent looks to be the best of both worlds - decent price and still a closed system (tri-clamp top/side).

If you really want to spend some bucks (a little to rich for my budget) - this guy is pretty nice:

http://www.brew-magic.com/ferm_flask.html

As we are currently adding 40 bbl fermenters to our brewery, I am considering just using a jacketed grundy to store yeast - leaves plenty of room to add a bbl or two of wort to pre-condition yeast for a 30-40 bbl batch of high gravity wort.

[fa50driver]

Copper kettle - I think that I just figured out why you like those milk cans so much....





Very cool site for some small batch distilling equipment! Thx