1st Time Yeast Washing & Harvesting

[bryanstrider]

Hi Brewmasters,

I've just tried Yeast Washing the first-time around. This one is a Lager yeast.

Methodology
1. 5 Litres of Distilled Water (Room Temp 18C) dumped into fermenter after bottling.
2. Swirled, dissolved everything.
3. Left to stratify for 3 hours.
4. Dumped out top clear layer/Beer/Wort,
5. Poured Middle Layer of milky solution into sanitised Mason Jar.
6. Dumped out the gunky dark layer at the bottom. (There wasn't much)
7. Left jar at the back of the fridge; approx 3 Celcius over a few days.

It came out like this.

It looks like all the yeast fell out and compacted at the bottom with 75% of clear fluid on top as per pic.

There's still 2 layers here in the pic. Light milky layer and a darker layer over here at the bottom.

Question:
1. Did I mess up the stratification or mixed it up too much when separating the 3 layers from Step 3 onwards?
2. Does it look right?
3. Can I use this to make a starter.

Best Wishes

 

[wide eyed and legless]

Hi Brewmasters,

I've just tried Yeast Washing the first-time around. This one is a Lager yeast.

Methodology
1. 5 Litres of Distilled Water (Room Temp 18C) dumped into fermenter after bottling.
2. Swirled, dissolved everything.
3. Left to stratify for 3 hours.
4. Dumped out top clear layer/Beer/Wort,
5. Poured Middle Layer of milky solution into sanitised Mason Jar.
6. Dumped out the gunky dark layer at the bottom. (There wasn't much)
7. Left jar at the back of the fridge; approx 3 Celcius over a few days.

It came out like this.


View attachment 118658

It looks like all the yeast fell out and compacted at the bottom with 75% of clear fluid on top as per pic.

There's still 2 layers here in the pic. Light milky layer and a darker layer over here at the bottom.

Question:
1. Did I mess up the stratification or mixed it up too much when separating the 3 layers from Step 3 onwards?
2. Does it look right?
3. Can I use this to make a starter.

Best Wishes

Discard the fluid, harvest the lighter colour, discard the dark colour.

 

[Nullnvoid]

I don't have anything to add unfortunately, but I'll be watching closely. I have just tried washing yeast but not sure how success I was. But your process is one I was following.

I do think you could make a started from what you have definitely. I freeze yeast and make a starter using only 15ml of yeast.