How to Bring Back Yeast from Germany

Discussion in 'Homebrewing' started by Z_Will_Brew, Apr 11, 2018.

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  1. Z_Will_Brew

    Z_Will_Brew Initiate (0) Apr 11, 2018

    Hey all,

    I'm looking for suggestions for way to be able to bring back Yeast culture from beers drunk while I am living in Germany (Munich) for 6 months.

    As a friend and I brew back home in the New England, I was hoping to try and bring back some cultures from some of the beers available here - to experiment with back home and to try and recreate the deliciousness of the Munchen beer scene.

    Supplies are limited as I obviously did not bring any equipment with me, but could be obtained at a local hardware/art/homebrew store.

    The key issue is to be able to get it back to the States still alive - or able to be brought back to life?)

    I'm also looking into how to get back a few hop samples - but have yet to find a homebrew store here to look into more details. Munich/Germany has some tight 'laws' on what constitutes real beer and with all the major breweries brewing such dank brews the homebrew seen is not as large as I have seen elsewhere.

    Any and all suggestions are welcome....

    -ZW
     
    #1 Z_Will_Brew, Apr 11, 2018
  2. JackHorzempa

    JackHorzempa Grand Pooh-Bah (3,375) Dec 15, 2005 Pennsylvania
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    #2 JackHorzempa, Apr 11, 2018
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  3. JackHorzempa

    JackHorzempa Grand Pooh-Bah (3,375) Dec 15, 2005 Pennsylvania
    Society Pooh-Bah

    #3 JackHorzempa, Apr 11, 2018
  4. nater919

    nater919 Initiate (0) Aug 26, 2016 New York

    Yeah an agar slant is your best bet. $6.50 on morebeer. There are plenty of videos on youtube showing cultivating and propagation techniques. A properly sanitized sample should have a reliable shelf life of at least three months at 38 degrees F.
     
    #4 nater919, Apr 11, 2018
  5. JackHorzempa

    JackHorzempa Grand Pooh-Bah (3,375) Dec 15, 2005 Pennsylvania
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    Are you recommending that the OP purchase a cooler and transport the slant(s) using ice packs?

    Cheers!
     
    #5 JackHorzempa, Apr 11, 2018
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  6. nater919

    nater919 Initiate (0) Aug 26, 2016 New York

    Ha, right that may create an issue. I have no idea of the legalities of transporting yeast internationally. Caring around a cooler might look suspicious to customs.
     
    #6 nater919, Apr 11, 2018
  7. JackHorzempa

    JackHorzempa Grand Pooh-Bah (3,375) Dec 15, 2005 Pennsylvania
    Society Pooh-Bah

    I have no idea how customs folks 'operate' but I have traveled domestically with a soft-pack cooler which has food (e.g., lunch) in it. I even used a frozen bottle of water as my 'ice-pack'. FWIW I experienced no issues there with the TSA folks.

    Cheers!
     
    #7 JackHorzempa, Apr 11, 2018
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  8. VikeMan

    VikeMan Grand Pooh-Bah (3,067) Jul 12, 2009 Pennsylvania
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    Per TSA rules, ice is okay, as long as it is frozen solid when presented at the checkpoint. But if even partially melted, then it can't exceed 100 ml (and the bottle would also need to be contained in a quart sized ziplock).
     
    #8 VikeMan, Apr 11, 2018
  9. premierpro

    premierpro Savant (1,060) Mar 21, 2009 Michigan

    When I came back from Germany I stuck a couple bottles in my suit case.
     
    #9 premierpro, Apr 16, 2018
    boddhitree, donspublic and JackHorzempa like this.
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