Comments on: Yeast Washing: Reusing your Yeast

By: Brad Smith

Brad Smith — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 19:00:29 +0000

You actually want the clear liquid.

By: Ben

Ben — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 10:05:42 +0000

Hi
Great tip, I have tried this, ok… so I now have three jars, after leaving it for an hour of so there was a yellowy liquid on top which I poured into a sterilised jar, and I repeated the process into another sterilised jar an hour or so later. However now after leaving it over night I have a thick layer of browny stuff floating ontop of the yellowy clear liquid in the first jar, Is this the bit I actually want? is this the yeast? or do I want the yellowy clear liquid?

Thanks in advance.

By: December 2011 Newsletter « SAAZ Homebrew Club

December 2011 Newsletter « SAAZ Homebrew Club — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 23:09:26 +0000

[...] Washing yeast to reuse it in another batch of beer is a great technique to have in your home brewing arsenal. Yeast washing is a simple process used to separate the live yeast from the underlying trub (hops and spent grains) left at the bottom of your fermenter when making beer. Read more here. [...]

By: p.d

p.d — Sun, 27 Nov 2011 00:36:48 +0000

just salvaged and recycled 1968 ale yeast. airlock activity stopped in my 5 gal primary. i added some primeing sugar and bottled it up. meanwhile in my brew kettle i had my next ipa recipe cooling. so i swished about 1/2 gallon sterile water into the trub of my just emptied carboy and washed it out into 2 containers. i poured the top layer of one into my new wort and overnight it is beautifully krausening. i have saved the other container in the refer. i love it. so far so good.

By: Mark

Mark — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 16:14:13 +0000

How does this compare with harvesting yeast from the bottom of bottles? Is that a viable option as well?

By: mick

mick — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 13:28:22 +0000

I have been brewing for years now, since I have found this web site I have learnt so, keep up the great work and I started out as a hobby but not now, thanks guys

By: John

John — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 18:15:08 +0000

So basic could you do this and is it pratical, if you were to empty the primary fermter, so that all you have is the yeast cake then add a 1 liter of sterile water, let it sit ,,,to sepate into a 2 liter flask then repete step again would this work

By: concrete cleaning richmond va

concrete cleaning richmond va — Mon, 21 Feb 2011 07:02:41 +0000

I noticed, and have experienced, the manhandling of the carboy when carefully pouring out the top layer. It might be easier to get the top layer off if you let everything settle out while the carboy is on it’s side. A gentle tilt pours the top layer off easily instead of churning up the layers when tilting from the bottom. Just a thought.

By: Beer Ingredients: Yeast « New York Ale Project

Beer Ingredients: Yeast « New York Ale Project — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 21:04:17 +0000

[...] can also get multiple uses out of your brewers yeast. (I’ve never done it, so I’ll let BeerSmith explain it.) If you keep at it, you can develop what is essentially your own “house [...]

By: Brad Smith

Brad Smith — Tue, 18 Jan 2011 03:10:31 +0000

John,
It takes a few weeks for slurry to fully degrade, so you should be fine. Just wash the yeast as soon as possible.

Brad

By: John

John — Tue, 18 Jan 2011 02:56:03 +0000

I poured the slurry from my primary into a mason jar and put it in the fridge. It’s been there for two days. Is it too late to wash it?

Thanks,
John

By: Brad Smith

Brad Smith — Fri, 10 Dec 2010 02:01:29 +0000

Yes, but you might want some kind of airlock initially as the yeast could still ferment a bit and build up pressure.

By: tom

tom — Thu, 09 Dec 2010 22:11:17 +0000

can I use the mason jar lids not the foil or plastic .

By: admin

admin — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 03:47:31 +0000

Tom – If you are going to save the yeast for an extended period (2 months), I prefer washing as it separates the yeast from the tannins and trub that over time could lead to off flavors.

By: Tom

Tom — Sun, 21 Mar 2010 17:13:03 +0000

Brad,

What are your thoughts on washing the yeast as opposed to simply saving some of the slurry (in the fridge) for a future brew (say for a brew taking place 2 months later)?

Thanks,
Tom

By: Brad Smith

Brad Smith — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 03:47:34 +0000

I would recommend a starter unless you are going to reuse the yeast immediately. It is best to have active yeast in your beer as opposed to yeast that have been dormant for some time.

By: DJBeerStein

DJBeerStein — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 21:49:37 +0000

I have been wanting to recycle my yeast for a while now. I am currently working on a frozen yeast bank, but this yeast washing technique will be great in the meantime.

I am wondering, if I wash the yeast out of the primary of a 5 gallon fermenter, will it be enough yeast to pitch into a 5 gallon batch of cooled wort? I would most likely use a yeast starter, but if you know, please let me know if it’s sufficient either way.

Thanks!

David

By: admin

admin — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 01:06:39 +0000

Actually the yeast from the primary fermentation is more active which is why it is generally preferable for reuse.

By: eolaughlin

eolaughlin — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 14:25:15 +0000

Would it be better to use yeast from the secondary fermenter since this yeast is more alchol tolerant? There are also less hops debris etc.

By: Dakota

Dakota — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 22:59:48 +0000

I think this is a great idea.

By: Brad Smith

Brad Smith — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 21:49:37 +0000

The article on yeast starters linked in as part of the quote you mention in the article tells how to create a yeast starter for your beer. For example, a 5 gallon batch should have a 1-2 liter starter.

By: William Johnson

William Johnson — Sun, 03 Aug 2008 21:06:27 +0000

toward the end of the article on yeast washing, it states: “On the day before you brew, add some wort to your yeast create an appropriately sized yeast starter for your next batch.” How do you add wort to the washed yeast the day before you brew? Totally unclear…please advise?
William