So I want to do a Westmalle clone of sorts, but want to culture the yeast from the bottle. I've never done this before and think it'll be fun. If done properly, this should yield an adequate amount for a 5 gal batch, yes? Are there any extra tricks that need to be done? Plus, I hear some people recommend re-pitching right before bottling. Is this necessary? Thanks for the help!
It is not my intention to dissuade you from culturing yeast from a bottle but if you decide not to do that you can buy the Westmalle yeast: Wyeast 3787. I brew with 3787 frequently. It is my favorite Belgian Ale yeast strain. Cheers!
Yes, you can harvest yeast from a single bottle and make enough for a 5 gallon batch. Sometimes it's hit or miss, but none of the steps are terribly difficult. Here's a decent tutorial: http://beer-geeking.blogspot.com/2011/08/yeast-bottle-harvesting.html A couple of extra tidbits: You prefer fresh beer with a low ABV . . . Westmalle in the US will fail both of these criteria. But this isn't fatal, I have successfully harvested high ABV Belgians. You will need at least four different step-starters to reach the 200 billion level. The first two steps should be at the 1.020 level. Time to get the first growth activity is all over the place. I've had yeast start in 2-3 days, then 6-7 days for the next batch. Others have posted it took 10+ days for activity. Your first step will be in the 100-200ml range and it's very easy to miss the krausen rising and falling, it can all take place overnight. I have gone to step 2 out of blind faith, usually with success. Oxygen, yeast nutrient, and stir plates are your friend. Do not be in a hurry, the entire process may take a week or two. Re-pitching before bottling is probably not necessary if you go promptly from fermenter to the bottle. Extended aging can leave your yeast so dormant that they may not be up to the job of finishing the carbonation.
