Home Made Yeast

[level Joe]

Wild yeast is part of the life cycle. Its everywhere decompsing(eating)
sugar anywhere it finds it. Throw in some rasins they are covered with it.
Cant say Id do it though.

Open air fermentation is like a box of chalk-O-lets, you never know what, your gonna get.

[Tater]

From what ive read .In old days thats how yeast was made a distiller would take 1/4 quarter peck of malt boil it in 3 pints water. Pour off liquid and set in warm place to fermint.When it starts add same recipe to it agin . When that starts fermenting do it agin. That soppose to make enough stock yeast to do 40 gallons.Was also used as a starter yeast in growing more yeast. From what I was told years ago by fokes in the know was that when using wild yeast in grain whenever a batch really turned out good they would try to keep it going as long as possable. The fokes that allways used wild yeast that Iknew of were usally brandy makers usally apple or peach Sometimes it was really good other times it wasnt.My grandfather allways used store bought yeast when he could get it. When your making it for a living guess you would want best fermint he could get. But on fruits he sometimes ferminted on wild to get the taste his daddy would get.

[lostmyshape]

thanks, tater. sounds like the same principle as sourdough bread, but with a grain mash instead of dough. i would imagine this technique is much more consistent and repeatable than open-air fermentation, and leaves less room for contamination. as the yeast takes over your starter mash, it should kill any nasties. might take a week, but should work.

i definately wouldn't immediately use what was collected, though. too many other things could be living in there. like sourdough starter, it would probably be a good idea to keep feeding it for a week or so to take hold (i'm just guessing based on my experience with bread baking).

lots of things that could go wrong, though. plus, who knows if the yeast that's natural to your area will create very good tasting stuff.

anyone want to give it a try and report back. i would, but i'm not set up to do it yet. maybe in a couple months when i'm up and running.