4 replies to this topic

[Joe]

Just harvested and washed (I guess technically rinsed?) my first yeast from the Rye IPA. I used the method of dumping in boiled and cooled water, letting settle, pour into container and repeat into pint jars. I did have quite a bit of hop gunk in the fermenter - for whatever reason it just didn't want to settle out after the boil. However, the pint jars look pretty clean - nice white pale yeast with no green junk.Now, I do have a concern. This was one of the most violent fermentations I've had in awhile and I had a pretty violent blow-off. I'm afraid that my high attenuating buggers might have been blown out of the blow-off tube during the feeding frenzy. My beers always seem to under-attenuate when I have violent blow offs (not sure if this is a valid association however). Should this affect the yeast much? Or should I not worry and just repitch?This is pacman yeast and I'd like to pitch some of it into Ken's Home Run Red. (Yep... I'm becoming Ken recipe addict...) However, I'd rather not ruin 12 gallons of red gold if y'all think the blow off may have compromised the viability of the yeast.Joe

[Humperdink]

You have nothing to worry about Joe. If you're worried then make a starter before you brew just to relax your mind.

[ncbeerbrewer]

Just harvested and washed (I guess technically rinsed?) my first yeast from the Rye IPA. I used the method of dumping in boiled and cooled water, letting settle, pour into container and repeat into pint jars. I did have quite a bit of hop gunk in the fermenter - for whatever reason it just didn't want to settle out after the boil. However, the pint jars look pretty clean - nice white pale yeast with no green junk.Now, I do have a concern. This was one of the most violent fermentations I've had in awhile and I had a pretty violent blow-off. I'm afraid that my high attenuating buggers might have been blown out of the blow-off tube during the feeding frenzy. My beers always seem to under-attenuate when I have violent blow offs (not sure if this is a valid association however). Should this affect the yeast much? Or should I not worry and just repitch?This is pacman yeast and I'd like to pitch some of it into Ken's Home Run Red. (Yep... I'm becoming Ken recipe addict...) However, I'd rather not ruin 12 gallons of red gold if y'all think the blow off may have compromised the viability of the yeast.Joe

Joe,You should be fine to repitch the slurry that you have collected and cleaned regardless of the violence of your last fermentation. I use a blow off tube when mine go wild and yes I lose some yeast to carry over but the vast majority of the yeast still settles in the fermenter. I see no issue for you to repitch as you wish from your slurry. I have never bothered to collect or reuse any of the yeast that carries over from the blow off. Just my personal preference.

[Big Nake]

Yeah Joe, I think you're fine. You could always make a starter as Chris mentioned and you'd be okay. Remember too, yeast will multiply based on whatever magic occurs to tell them when to begin fermenting (anyone can feel free to clean that up for me) so if you slightly underpitched on the next batch, there will be some reproduction of yeast (creating new, healthy cells) and you should be good. I just made the Home Run Red on Monday, btw. Vanguard, Mt. Hood and 1056... smells lovely. Cheers & good luck you yeast rinser.

[Joe]

Yes, this will give my wife plenty of additional ammunition about me and my pet sea monkeys (this usually occurs while I'm watching a good active fermentation). Now it will be - 'when are you going to give your sea monkeys a bath?'