Hey guys, I bought some yeast from Bootleg Biology last April (Sour Solera Blend, Saison Parfait, MF Saison Blend) which I never got a chance to use. I’ve finally decided to brew with them but am concerned with the viability of these cultures. I don’t have much experience with mixed cultures but I’ve read that starters for them is a bad idea because it can throw off the balance of the blends. What would you guys recommend? Should I throw them in as is? Or build starters? Or odds out a lost cause?
I wouldn't worry too much about the ratio of the cultures (unless maybe you are trying to something reeeeeaaly specific here). Increasing viability would be way more favorable IMO. If you direct pitch, they will probably express eventually but it would probably take much longer and result in something different than intended. Will you use a sacch strain for primary ? co - pitch ? staggered pitch? I'd let it go in a starter for a week then pitch (my two cents). Also, I highly recommend pitching bottle dregs from other sour beers you like as you age the beer. What are you planning to make ? Cheers!
I was planning on doing a simple pils\flaked wehat\aromatic saison to let these yeast express themselves. But I’m not so concerned about the solera blend as I’m with the other two. I was thinking either copitching the Parfait/MF Blend directly or doing a combined starter (can only do it for 4 days as I’m brewing Monday). The thing concerning me is the lacto portion.
I have brewed with both the Parfait and the MF blend, but not combined, and with fresh stock. The Parfait gave me something of what I wanted in a saison. The MF Blend went sour very fast and didn't come across to me as a saison at all. I recall thinking it pretty one dimensional.
I bet this will work out just fine. Are you able to pick up another separate pitch of Lacto ? Or as @pweis909 mentioned, that MF blend might get you there no problem. I'd give a healthy pitch of something like WY3711 as well, then throw your bugs of choice in a 1L starter for 7 days, brew Monday, then pitch the bugs after the Saison sacch strain gets a bit of head start. Mostly because the sacch that is in the MF blend likely has considerably low viability by now. But if you are going to brew with just what you got there, and have plenty of time to age it out, my guess is you are going to make something good. Cheers!
I probably should have added that I did not hop the MF blend saison. It's possible that if I did hop it, I would have reined in some of the lacto, allowing other flavors to be more prominent. Not sure: http://www.milkthefunk.com/wiki/Mixed_Cultures#Bootleg_Biology https://www.facebook.com/groups/MilkTheFunk/permalink/1667652549929619/
