Using Brett in 2 beers

[bhaas]

I want brew a Farmhouse saison. I am planning on performing primary fermentation with wyeast 3724 then transferring the beer to secondary with wyeast 5526 Brett L. I would then like to brew an Orval type beer using wyeast 3522 in primary and then transferring to secondary with the same Brett pitch from the saison. How concerned should i be with the saison yeast carried over in the slurry? Should i attempt to fine the saison before adding the brett? Any suggestions would be helpful.

BHaas

[troybinso]

I don't think you can avoid getting some of that saison yeast into the second beer. I would suggest making a starter for the brett and then splitting it up and using half in the first beer and saving half for the second beer.

[herbaljoe]

I want brew a Farmhouse saison. I am planning on performing primary fermentation with wyeast 3724 then transferring the beer to secondary with wyeast 5526 Brett L. I would then like to brew an Orval type beer using wyeast 3522 in primary and then transferring to secondary with the same Brett pitch from the saison. How concerned should i be with the saison yeast carried over in the slurry? Should i attempt to fine the saison before adding the brett? Any suggestions would be helpful.

BHaas

Depending on how much the 3724 dries the beer out, you may consider adding some more fermentables when you pitch the brett. If it doesn't have much to chew on it won't contribute as much character.

[brewinhard]

Not sure how close together you plan on brewing these two beers, but if you are aging the saison in secondary with the brett L. then plan on at least 2-3 mos before you do anything with it. Sometimes it even takes longer for the brett to become noticeable based on residual sugars and temperature during aging. Which means that the slurry under your saison will not even be available until that point. And yes, you will have a blend of brett and 3724 even if you cold crash the beer first, although I don't think by that time that the saison yeast will really have any strength or viability to do much in another beer.

If it were me, I would probably pitch a new packet of brett into your saison and let that age AND purchase a new packet of Brett for your Orval inspiration. If you split the pack and pitch half into your saison and the other half into a small starter for your Orval, then you will have to be willing to keep that brett alive and healthy to use when you are ready which could be up to 3-4 weeks after the saison secondary pitch providing you are brewing pretty regularly. Just some thoughts....

[bhaas]

Thanks
Seems to me the best thing to do would be to go with brewinhard's suggestion and use two brett packages. My next question would be when to add the brett to the saison. Originally i was thinking about when 3724 stalls out, my experience 1.020-1.030ish, for a little more restrained brett character. Does that seem like the right approach?

[Ironman]

Brett maintains very well at room temperatures so you can use one pack to create a starter and then feed and breed for months or longer.

[Cody]

Brett maintains very well at room temperatures so you can use one pack to create a starter and then feed and breed for months or longer.

+1 I just made a starter from rinsed slurry that I had left sitting on the counter for a year. Took two days to wake up, but after that they took off and are just as good as new. I know Chad Y also recommends storing your Brett at room temp.

[bhaas]

If i use one yeast pack for a split starter what kind of pitching rates should i shoot for? 2L starter, one liter for each beer?