Wash Yeast or Pitch on top of the Yeast Cake?

[sanders5x]

I have a dopplebock fermenting right now, and I would like to reuse the yeast from the batch. I plan on brewing on Saturday or Sunday, and after reading the tutorial on washing yeast, it looks easy enough to preform. I was just planning on racking straight on to the yeast cake at the bottom of the fermenter. I will be brewing a Almaza clone for a friend, which is a lighter lager so the yeast might benifit from a washing after the doppelbock. Just wanted to know what you guys would do.

[Ó Flannagáin]

I'd wash half of it and rack on top of half of it :D

[mdd134]

I would wash it if you plan on using it in future brews. that way you can do multiple brews from it

When I wash my yeast I will get 5 bottles of yeast from it, each bottle has about an inch of yeast after you chill them. I have been pitching directly from one bottle with no starter and I will have fermentation in less then 12 hours.

http://sobrew.com/~mdd134/homebrew/beerpics/yeastcul2.JPG

http://sobrew.com/~mdd134/homebrew/beerpics/yeastcul.JPG

[sanders5x]

Thats pretty cool, I like the results of that

[DrunkenSatyr]

Yeah it is super easy and kinda fun the first few times. Give it a shot.

[MrMarbleHead]

Yeah i agree, wash it so you don't pick up any of the color in the lager.

mdd134 there is some green crap growing in the bottom of your fridge man!

Here I cleaned it up for you
http://www.homebrewtalk.com/gallery/data/1/yeastcul2.jpg

[mdd134]

haha yeah thats the wifes beer i can not stand the crap

[Ó Flannagáin]

hahahaha, just noticed the fine photoshop work there.

[sanders5x]

http://www.unitedglasstech.com/Miscellaneous/EBAYpics2004UGT/2000mlSEPARATORYfunnel.jpg

So something like this would work good?

[Ó Flannagáin]

No. You'd be decanting off the top, not taking what's settled to the bottom.

[sanders5x]

Oh, I was thinking it would work just like a conical, and you could dump the trub and then harvest the yeast

[Ó Flannagáin]

Actually, that would probably work. Can't say for sure though if that's the best way to get pure yeast or not. I know decanting you leave allll the trub at the bottom so it works really well.

[sanders5x]

I am just trying to find something that I can use to harvest the yeast. I would prefer something with a lid/stopper of some sorts

[Ó Flannagáin]

Well, I"m sure that would work fine doing it like you said. Just remember you will need to refriderate your yeast to store it. Would be pretty cool with this though just to pull some off for a batch and leave the rest int he container.

[mdd134]

I use two 1/2 gal glass jugs with stoppers and air lock. then put the yeast in bottles and cap them. They work good and they are cheap. I also make my starters in them.


here is a 1gal onehttp://sobrew.com/~mdd134/homebrew/beerpics/yeaststarter.JPG

[sanders5x]

I got some bottles I could use, and I like your KISS approach