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If I put a yeast slurry from the dregs of a ferment into the fridge after I've racked the rest of the alcohol off, will the yeast survive to ferment another day? I've seen some complicated methods for yeast ranching, but I'm looking for a relatively simple way to avoid wasting otherwise good yeasts. They make me alcohol...the least I can do is support their colony.

Put them in a bottle with a little fresh wash, sugar or whatever there used to. Then put them in the fridge to slow them down so they don't consume so much sugar and they'll live. You'll need to allow for the gas escape so put an airlock on the bottle or a cotton ball stuffed in the neck. I made a tiny airlock especially for this with a plastic pill container, a straw and a bottle cap.

I think the Lalvin website has some details on how to do this... I'll look and see if I can find the link..

Care to post a pic, KH? Personally, I make my airlocks out of easter eggs and copper tubing I have leftover from my still making.

Easter Egg Airlock

Edit: How do I upload a photo so it actually shows up in my message?

This is one of my culture bottles. It is a 1 liter pop bottle with an airlock the right size to fit in the back corner of the fridge.


To post pictures you need to upload them to the net somewhere. Then use the "[Img]" button on either side of the link to your pictures.

Looks very cool. I've been trying to figure out a way to make a three-piece airlock for a while.

Assuming I start saving my yeasts, could I potentially breed new yeasts. Like if I wanted a yeast with a high tolerance for acidic environments, could I breed a strain by slowly increasing the level of acids in my slurry?

knuklehead wrote: I made a tiny airlock especially for this with a plastic pill container, a straw and a bottle cap.

DOOODE!!!! What can you do with a Paper Clip, a Yard of string, a Golf Pencil and some Chewing gum????


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DAMN KNUKLEHEAD McGYVER RULES!!!

LOL! that easter egg airlock is very nice! looks very eastery:D

Thorin...

Don Ventura wrote:DOOODE!!!! What can you do with a Paper Clip, a Yard of string, a Golf Pencil and some Chewing gum????
-----------------------------------------------------------DAMN KNUKLEHEAD McGYVER RULES!!!

I could tell you.......but then I'd have to KILL you