breeding yeast strains

[Charles74]

Greetings everyone

Here's a question I'd love to hear feedback on: has anyone used the yeast cake of one brew to kick start the next one? Furthermore, has anyone done this over a series of brews to develop the yeast strain? Did it get better along the way?

I know this is roughly what Guiness do. They've kept alive their yeast strain for a ridiculous number of years.

This is the next great experiment I'd like to attempt in brewing beer and would welcome your ideas.

[Bum]

Yes, this is something lots of us have done here. If you search for "yeast cake" you'll find a great many explanations of how some of us do it/have done it. But be aware that it isn't something that you can actually do infinitely. The yeast does change over time, often for the better at first but eventually it will go south. Most people suggest re-used yeast cakes shouldn't go beyond 5 generations.

You might want to do a search for a similar process of yeast harvesting called 'top cropping'. Pretty much the same deal but (as far as I am aware) there's not the worry of the yeast turning bad (assuming good hygiene/processes, of course).

[Charles74]

Great help, Bum - only 5 generations? It probably doesn't really sound like it's worth it, but I might give it a go at least once.

[Bum]

Well, it all depends really. If you use liquid yeasts and reuse the yeast cake 5 times you've saved yourself at least $50. The reason I don't do it any more is I found it a bit hard to work out correct pitching rates this way.

It is also possible to store and reuse yeastcake/top-cropped yeast so you can always have a wide selection of yeast available for minimal cost. But personally I'm sorta with you and find that the effort required outweighs the cost saving for me and my brewing practice (i.e. I don't use the same yeast over and over nor do I brew often enough to be able to cycle a whole raft of yeast strains to keep them healthy in storage).

[rotten]

Split the yeastcake each time, your 5 generations will last heaps longer. I split into 2 or even 3 depending on the yeast. up to 3rd gen on current yeast but it's time to try something else.
Cheers