Is this yeast or trub? And is it usable?

Discussion in 'Homebrewing' started by GetMeAnIPA, Jan 17, 2016.

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  1. GetMeAnIPA

    GetMeAnIPA Pooh-Bah (2,559) Mar 28, 2009 California
    Pooh-Bah

    i just kegged my stout and I washed the yeast to reuse again. I've done this process multiple times and have had success. However, I've never done a stout and I can't tell the yeast from the trub.

    My process is I add a gallon of boiled water that has been cooled off. I swirl the spiedel around as best as I can. The only negative is I can't see inside the fermenter so I can't tell if all the contents came loose. I let stand for 30-45 minutes while I clean up. Then I use the spigot to pour a gallon of the liquid back into my clear glass gallon jug. I let stand for another hour to let everything settle. I then pour the jug into pint mason jars trying to only transfer the yeast that settles on the top.

    I will add I used cocoa powder in the boil.

    Below is what was transferred into the pint jars and when i transferred from the gallon jug I couldn't tell the yeast from the trub. When I was don't transferring from the fermenter to the gallon jug there was still a bunch of sludge on the bottom. I am not sure if that was yeast or trub either.

    My question is this yeast in the jar and if it is is it good to pitch again?


    [​IMG]
     
    #1 GetMeAnIPA, Jan 17, 2016
  2. Brew_Betty

    Brew_Betty Initiate (0) Jan 5, 2015 Wisconsin

    Chances are it's yeast, trub and usable.
     
    #2 Brew_Betty, Jan 17, 2016
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  3. GormBrewhouse

    GormBrewhouse Pooh-Bah (2,111) Jun 24, 2015 Vermont
    Pooh-Bah

    One way to try is after you add the sterilized water and agitated, lay the fermenter on the side instead of standing upright. Makes for easyer pouring of the yeast and less trub.
     
    #3 GormBrewhouse, Jan 17, 2016
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  4. scottakelly

    scottakelly Maven (1,487) May 9, 2007 Ohio

    Harder to tell yeast from trub in a darker beer, but it will still work just fine. When you're ready to use just pour off about 2/3 of the beer on top, shake the rest into suspension, and proceed as normal.
     
    #4 scottakelly, Jan 18, 2016
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  5. GetMeAnIPA

    GetMeAnIPA Pooh-Bah (2,559) Mar 28, 2009 California
    Pooh-Bah

    Thanks.

    With it being more difficult to distinguish yeast from trub what's the best way to calculate how much yeast Is needed for my next pitch?
     
    #5 GetMeAnIPA, Jan 18, 2016
  6. scottakelly

    scottakelly Maven (1,487) May 9, 2007 Ohio

    I would assume there is just as much yeast present as there would be with a lighter colored beer of the same gravity.

    I'm not an expert of harvested yeast pitch calcs, but from what I've read for ale brewing pitching a harvested yeast from a batch is over pitching a similar gravity and volume batch.

    From experience I can tell you that harvested yeast from 5 gallons of moderate gravity ale is plenty to pitch into 10 gallons of similar gravity ale, harvested yeast from 10 gallons of moderate gravity ale has no ill effect on 10 gallons of similar gravity ale and is very sufficient for 5 to 8 gallons of high gravity ale. Similarly, for lager yeast the harvested yeast is sufficient for a lager of the same volume and gravity.

    All of the above assumes my normal practice of using the yeast either immediately or within 4 weeks of harvest.
     
    #6 scottakelly, Jan 18, 2016
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