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Liquid Yeast
Culturing
“I’ve tried to make a certain style of
beer but there is something missing!” – Joe Brewer
Most brewers underestimate the effect that yeasts
have on the flavour of their beer. There are literately thousands of different
yeast strains that can be used to make beer which all will impart their own
unique flavour to your brew. More importantly, if you are trying to recreate a
particular style or characteristic you have a much large selection of yeast in
liquid form.
“How do I
use liquid yeast?”
Most of the liquid yeast available today are
priced around $10 to $12, so it is common practice to culture the yeast and make
at least ½ dozen starters to make it more cost effective.
You
will need: -
2 – 3 liter bottle (Plastic Coke bottle will
do) 17 – 25mm bored rubber bung Airlock
100g malt (any type)
6
Stubbies
Method: -
1) Clean & sterilise the bottle, bung
etc.
2) Dissolve malt in a cup of boiling water & add to the
bottle.
3) Fill with cold water leaving a good 100mm space at top.
4) Add
liquid yeast & shake. Replace bung & airlock and leave for 24 to 48
hours till it is fermenting actively.
5) Gently shake bottle to mix sediment
through the culture and bottle into stubbies. Cap & refrigerate
immediately.
*You now have at least 6 starters, which will keep in
the fridge for 6 to 12 months. Use the following method to re-activate the
starters.
Using the Yeast Starters
Method: -
1) The day before you plan on making your brew,
remove one of your yeast starters from the fridge and gentle shake to mix
through the sediment.
2) Sterilise a 750 ml bottle, bung &
airlock.
3) Add a tablespoon of malt or dextrose to the bottle (any
fermentable).
4) Transfer the contents of your yeast starter to the
bottle & top up with cold water leaving 100mm (4 inches) at top.
5)
Replace bung airlock and leave a day to start fermenting again.
6) When
active you can now use this to brew. Make your beer as you normally would and
add the contents of the bottle instead of your dry yeast.
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