Let's Freeze Some Yeast

[Coldspace]

It's easy as isn't . I love my yeast collection now. Got some more samples to grow up and freeze. Isn't really about cost, just awesome to have on hand a frozen selection for diff brews. Great for busy lifestyle, can start up a started, and pitch 48 hrs later . Especially when most of my local shops only carry dried stuff.
Thanks again for those who led the way on this new hobby/ obssesion lol

Only problem I've got now, is fighting the missus to keep a shelf in our freezer free for me lol

 

[MastersBrewery]

First world issues.....
I can get 20kg of dme locally for $45. But how the hell do I store it. Do I vac seal down to 2kg lots?

 

[AJS2154]

20kg for $45......isn't that really cheap? I would get some at that rate and have a crack. Why would it not keep if vacuum sealed, it is away from pests, humidity and sunlight.

 

[SBOB]

First world issues.....
I can get 20kg of dme locally for $45. But how the hell do I store it. Do I vac seal down to 2kg lots?

thats crazy cheap
from where?

 

[MastersBrewery]

Yarragon, Latrobe Valley.
That a lot of vac sealing, it's not like I'm some exotic hop merchant. I'm moving house next week so I'll grab some but wait till the boss's are happily settled.

Ed, getting used to reading glasses missed a post.

 

[mofox1]

Vac seal not really necessary... Can just bag up into the biggest ziplocks you can find. I've stored approx 10kg in a bucket for the past year.. almost empty from yeast starters and OG fuckups. Likewise for the previous year. It's fine until the last few cm, then it was noticeable it has started to pick up a bit of moisture from the air.

Just about to finish this bucket and I've already got the dme to fill it again, not going to do any different this time.

But $45.. jeez.

 

[MastersBrewery]

Now you guys have me worried; I didn't have the new reading glasses when I saw that price!?!??

 

[mofox1]

At that price I'd be checking it actually is malt extract, and not just dex/glucose. Keg king price for 25kg of dex is $50, vs $120 something for DME. Not necessarily the best prices, but won't be far from it.

 

[Yob]

I've got to pick up a new bag too, I've gone through 20kg just in starters over the last year or so.. I just kept it in the bag with a big moisture absorber pack on top, still dusty to the last.

Under $50 is a steal, not sure I'm even getting it for that

 

[VP Brewing]

So this is is about 18 months in the deep freezer



with my 500ml flasks in the fridge with some 1728 in them I had to use a bigger flask for the first step of 1.020



at 12 hours there were clear signs of respiration which I thought was pretty good, the first step like this isnt really about building number but more restoring health.



so at the 12-18 hour mark I make a further 200g into 1.5L, chill and tip the whole lot in.



at 18 hours later I have this, Ive let it go till tonight and have turned the plate off.

I'll let this lot settle out of it's own accord before decanting and pitching toward the end of the week.

I've just finished these steps, starting Monday night using 1275. Planning on fermenting the vic swap brew with it then using the cake for a RIS .
Pitched the 500ml @ 1.020 flask into 1500ml @ 1.040 the next morning (12 hrs) after seeing the signs of respiration on the sign of the flask. It took almost 72 hours to get any krauzen. Checked this morning.
Would this lag time be stressful to yeast health in any way? I think next time I will let the first step go a bit longer.

 

[Yob]

each culture on its own merits mate, I tranfered only when I was sure it was ready, times vary.. I was going to throw one out a few back, was 48hrs with little signs... then boom! away it went.

If they are excessively slow (or even a bit longer than I expect) I'll let the second starter finish the ferment, as in, once Ive seen growth and a krausen, I'll switch off the plate and let them ferment and settle.

This allows all the yeast to build up their reserves and gets them to optimal health.

Then pitching to another 2lt starter has always shown expected results within hours. Its a method of 'proving' the yeast and Ive not had a fail yet with this method. But in saying that, I rekon at times they yeast have needed to be 'restored' with care.. one of the problems I have is that early on I was testing various amounts of glycerine concentrations and Ive no fekin idea which is which and as the concentrations got higher it took longer for the yeast to dispel it and get back to health and full operation.

Its the bed Ive made for myself so Im aware that each vial may react differently so I approach it fairly pragmatically and not in a hurry

 

[Yob]

Would this lag time be stressful to yeast health in any way? I think next time I will let the first step go a bit longer.

I dont believe so, you dont want it in your beer but a starter is a different ball game, particularly if you are decanting and pitching slurry.


Do make sure your adding a bit of yeast nutrient to each starter too, that is always a good thing to be doing.

 

[VP Brewing]

Cheers Yob. Great info. I've just got home an taken it off the stir plate. Will get another 2L ready to pitch into with nutrient this time. Couldn't be arsed going out to the shed to get it for the others and didn't think it mattered.

 

[Yob]

its still a pretty harsh environment for them so a bit of love here and there can go a long way

 

[MastersBrewery]

Time love and tenderness. Yob you know the song....

 

[Killer Brew]

I may need to look into freezing. I collected a nice active cup of weinstephen yeast from a wheat beer I brewed around 4 months back. Rinsed multiple times until clean and stored it refrigerated and airtight. Tried to get it going in a 1L starter at 1036 last week but no good. Seems it was all dead so 4 months is obviously a stretch in the fridge!

 

[MartinOC]

its still a pretty harsh environment for them so a bit of love here and there can go a long way

In a word - Yeast-Forge is your friend (OK, OK, it's hyphenated & technically not a single word, but you guys get the gist, right?). :super:

 

[Yob]

In a word - Yeast-Forge is your friend (OK, OK, it's hyphenated & technically not a single word, but you guys get the grist, right?). :super:

FTFY

 

[MartinOC]

No, you silly person! Go & change your armour!

Gist: :the substance or general meaning of a speech or text."

There's an extra "r" in there that you added that might have escaped your ken....Go & have another glass of RIS ya wazzock!

 

[Yob]

Insert facepalm....