Culturing yeast using slants

[Ryanh1801]

Anyone do this? I never really liked the method of just washing the yeast, and never though I would get into freezing strains. This looks like a great method for saving a few strains.
http://www.unm.edu/%7Edraper/beer/slantuse.html

[Ó Flannagáin]

I plan on doing it once I get setup at my new house. Just too cool not to!

[rdwj]

It sounded great until I got to the part about having to re-do them every few months. That's just too big of a PITA for me. I may eventually get into freezing yeast, but there is no way I'm going to dedicate enough time to keep a yeast library stocked when I have to maintain it so often.

[Ryanh1801]

It sounded great until I got to the part about having to re-do them every few months. That's just too big of a PITA for me. I may eventually get into freezing yeast, but there is no way I'm going to dedicate enough time to keep a yeast library stocked when I have to maintain it so often.

I read on the other forum people saying that they have kept them for 1-2 years. Im sure its just like people say washing yeast only last a month or so. But in fact if you are good on sanitation they last a lot longer.

[Ó Flannagáin]

I didn't know you had to maintain it. I thought if you froze it with glycerol it's good for quite a while.

[Ryanh1801]

I didn't know you had to maintain it. I thought if you froze it with glycerol it's good for quite a while.

You don't use glycerol with this method and don't freeze them. They are kept in the fridge.

[rdwj]

I just went off what I read...


I usually do 3 or 4 vials of a given yeast type in a session, because I rarely use the same yeast 4 times in 3 months. When 3 months is nearly over, I simply reculture the strain by doing the above to 3 or 4 new slants, but using an "old" slant as the source instead of a vial with a few ml of Wyeast solution in it. Otherwise the procedure is identical. Reculturing in this way does not increment the strain generation-number because the yeast have not made enough copies of themselves for mutation to occur.


Sounds sweet except for that part. That's why I'm still leaning toward freezing (eventually). If anyone has tried or or is planning to try it, perhaps you can report on how long these stay good. I can deal with a year - any less and I'm just too lazy to make it happen.

[fireballmatt]

Is it possible to selectively 'breed' yeast cultures?

For instance, how did Sam Adams wind up with the yeast that could live in the high alcohol Utopia brew?

[rdwj]

Is it possible to selectively 'breed' yeast cultures?

For instance, how did Sam Adams wind up with the yeast that could live in the high alcohol Utopia brew?

I believe that the strains are developed in labs to fit particular profiles. I'd imagine the equipment needed is a bit beyond what is practical for home use.

[Ó Flannagáin]

Yea, I'll probably freeze the yeast personally. I like the idea of not having to use it for a year if I don't feel like it.

[marzen41]

i read up on slants once. it sounded like they would keep for up to a year in the fridge. i was offline for several years and lost the artical but it sounded great. i did buy one of those freezer yeast banks once unfortunately i let it pass before fully using it . i did keep a strain of irish ale yeast for 6 months and it kicked up just fine