Reusing yeast after dry hop

Mon Mar 22, 2010 9:03 am

My next 2 batches are going to be a Pale Ale with my new citra hops and the Green Flash West Coast IPA, respectively. Can I repitch the yeast from the PA which will be dry hopped with cascade and citra, or will this impart too many flavors?

I was hoping to just rack off to keg, and then rack the IPA right on top of the yeast cake, but now I'm not sure. I suppose I could keg one day, and take put the slurry in the fridge over night. If I do this method, will I need a starter or can I just let it warm up, decant, and then pitch into the IPA?
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TheDarkSide
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Re: Reusing yeast after dry hop

Mon Mar 22, 2010 7:01 pm

GO for it, I dont really think the flavours will be noticed,
use Mr MAlty.com pitching rate calc, to see how much slurry to use, as if you rack on to the whole cake, you might end up with a rapid ferment, that produces too many off flavours, like I have made the mistake of doing a few times
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Re: Reusing yeast after dry hop

Mon Mar 22, 2010 8:06 pm

If you are talking about harvesting yeast before you dry hop, that should be just fine. Don't use yeast after you have had dry hops in a beer. There will be some level of contamination that will only build with successive repitching.
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Re: Reusing yeast after dry hop

Mon Mar 22, 2010 9:44 pm

+1 Chupa. Rack to a brite tank then dry hop it. Use the cake from the primary. It'll be fine.
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Re: Reusing yeast after dry hop

Tue Mar 23, 2010 4:26 am

Exactly what I was looking for...thanks!
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Kegged: Common, Cherry, & Apple Pie Ciders, Falconer Pale Ale, Strawberry Blonde
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Re: Reusing yeast after dry hop

Tue Mar 23, 2010 4:18 pm

Too funny I was reading about repitching on Wyeast's site.
I was reading this:
http://www.wyeastlab.com/com-yeast-harvest.cfm
#2 caught my eye:
Previous Fermentation: Always harvest from a low gravity and low hopped beer. High gravity and/or highly hopped beers can stress the yeast and have detrimental affects on future fermentations. Do not harvest yeast from beers with alcohol contents greater than 6.5% ABV.

I was wondering if Wyeast had an IBU level in mind. I sent them an email, and I'll post up the response if I get one.

Later
JD
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Re: Reusing yeast after dry hop

Fri Mar 26, 2010 5:13 pm

They replyed to my email.
From Wyeast:
They recommended not to harvest from beers over 40-45 IBU.
Last edited by dunleav1 on Fri Mar 26, 2010 6:11 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Reusing yeast after dry hop

Fri Mar 26, 2010 5:44 pm

I've heard the hop resins coat the yeast during dry hoping and may be detrimental to re-pich. Best to use a fresh pitch or dry hop in the keg if re-using the yeast cake. :jnj
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