Microscopic Yeast

[Kenny the plumber]

I read that you can use a microscope to see if your yeast is contaminated by wild strains.
Lots of white happy cells good
Black lines bad.
Does anyone have any experiance in this? Is there an easier way to tell?

 

[Kenny the plumber]

WTF kits and extrack must have had to many beers

 

[dr K]

Is there an easier way to tell?

tasting your beer (made from the yeast) is a good start.

K

 

[Kenny the plumber]

Sorry should have mentioned im harvesting yeast from one brew from the next
I also want to look at crossing strains?

 

[kook]

Sorry should have mentioned im harvesting yeast from one brew from the next
I also want to look at crossing strains?

Whitelabs have some good info about cell counting and identifying contamination on their website.

It's not a cheap investment though - you're looking at a minimum of about $400 for a suitable microscope, if not more like $800!

You're better off simply smelling and tasting the yeast for contamination if you're simply harvesting and repitching. Scopes are more useful if you're isolating strains, plating, or need to have an accurate cell count.

 

[samhighley]

I first give it a sniff, and then I give it a taste.

 

[Swinging Beef]

looking under a microscope would be more fun, tho.