Brew UK Forum | Beer Kits
Adding new wort to yeast cake?
Hi there,
I'm currently have a Woodfords Gt Eastern Ale on the go in the FV and want to get a Wherry going as soon as I have kegged the Gt Eastern.
Am I right in thinking I could simply mix up the wort for the Wherry and pour it straight onto the yeast cake left at the bottom of the FV? I understand of course that the wort would have to be at room temp first.
Is this generally ok, or not worth the risk of some baddies getting into the mix? Would you remove some of the yeast cake first in case it all "kicks off" in there?
Also, does anyone ever add a small amount of the yeast cake (less than a teaspoon?) to the keg just to help get things going in there?
Cheers, W
Responses
Posted 1 year ago by Moderator
Ive heard people do it with no problem but it would be massivly overpitching the yeast and thats where problems could start with different/off flavours. Also it could introduce some nastys if your not careful.
If you are gonna pitch onto the yeast cake make sure you have left a cm or so of beer on top of the cake so it hasnt been introduced to air to minimise the possibility of infection.
Plannin'-
Loads a beer after an upgrade!
nathbrew@gmail.com
Posted 1 year ago by Member
Hi Nath
Thanks for the speedy response. Would it make sense to remove half the yeast cake first so as not to overpitch?
Also do you, or does it make sense to, add a wee scoop of the slurry to the keg to help get things going in there?
Will
Posted 1 year ago by Moderator
You could move half, but then your increasing infection liklihood by introducing a scoop and air. To be honest if ya gonna do it then I would just pitch direct, people do do it its just not a practice I would do. Each to their own!
Ive never added a spoon of the slurry as there was always enough yeast in suspension to prime my barrels.
I once brewed an all grain lager. It was in primary (the first) fermentation for 2 weeks, then moved to a second fermentation vessel and lagered for 3-4 weeks at 5c. Even after 5 weeks there was more than enough yeast in suspension to prime the bottles I put it in!
Plannin'-
Loads a beer after an upgrade!
nathbrew@gmail.com
Posted 1 year ago by Member
Sounds like very good advice. Thanks Nath.
Posted 1 year ago by Admin
Willard I would only bother to reuse yeast if working with fresh yeast.
If you are using dried yeast is better to just use a new packet as its pretty cheap and one would have come with your beer kit anyway.
Its not worth the risk.
Posted 1 year ago by Member
Started off 2 batches of Wherry within a couple of each other. Once the first was bubbling, scooped a pint and used it as a starter for the second. Worked fine, but all I gained was a packet of yeast.
I was starting a batch of Youngs Ginger Beer and it seemed to stick, probably because of the temperature being about 15C. Used the Woodfords yeast and it went off quite well.
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