Keeping yeast starter @ 1 week

[ray m]

Well, brethren, I think I am finally going to brew the cherry ale I've been wanting to brew for a couple months now. I am adding 6 lbs. of cherries in the secondary. It will probably be a week before I'll be able to transfer it to the 2ndary, and I want to make sure I have enough yeast for the task (to work on the cherries). So I had this idea about the yeast starter: make a 2 qt. starter instead of a 1 qt. starter (my grain bill is only gonna have 8 lbs. of grain---so OG should be @ low to mid 40's, I think). After initial brewing, mix up starter real good to get all the yeast mixed in, and pour only half of it in for primary ferment. Then add the second half to the secondary with the fruit.

Is my idea necessary/a good idea? If so, what is the best way to store my leftover yeast starter for @ 1 week? Refrigerate, or just keep it in my dark basement until I'm ready?

Thanks in advance for advice, guys!!

[brewmonkey]

Your yeast should be fine for a week, 10 days is probably the max you should go. Keep it stored in an airtight container with a decent layer of beer/wort on top of it and keep it in the coldest place you can shy of freezing it. Let me know when it is ready for trading! :D

[Tweek]

I dont think you will need this. There should be plenty of yeast still in suspension when you rack to secondary. However I dont think it would hurt, other than creating more cake in secondary. You going to sulfite those cherries b4 u put em in?

[brewmonkey]

Don't sulfite the cherries, Pasteurize them.

[Tweek]

why not sulfite?

[brewmonkey]

They could inhibit fermentation once the cherries are added.

[ray m]

Originally posted by Tweek:
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I dont think you will need this. There should be plenty of yeast still in suspension when you rack to secondary. However I dont think it would hurt, other than creating more cake in secondary. You going to sulfite those cherries b4 u put em in?
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I plan on, like Brewmonkey said, pasteurizing them. I was going to thaw them 1st (they've been in the freezer for 3 months or so), then mash them a little & get the pits out, then put them in 160-165* water for 20 or 25 minutes. Into the 2ndary they will go.

thanks, guys!

[Tweek]

They could inhibit fermentation once the cherries are added.

Only if you use too much. You can use I believe 50 ppm (I would have to look it up to be sure on the amount) and it just makes it hard for the wild yeast to grow it shouldnt affect your cultured yeast. Pastuerizing works too. I was just wondering if there was something I was not aware of about adding sulfite.


thanks

[ray m]

Brewmonkey....the remainder of my starter wort is pretty much done fermenting & is in the fridge. When I am ready to add it to the cherries in the secondary, do I just let this "starter" warm up to room temp. for a few hours, or do I have to do something else to it, like "start" it again?

Thanks!!!! Ray

[Fast_Eddy]

Originally posted by ray m
Brewmonkey....the remainder of my starter wort is pretty much done fermenting & is in the fridge. When I am ready to add it to the cherries in the secondary, do I just let this "starter" warm up to room temp. for a few hours, or do I have to do something else to it, like "start" it again?

Thanks!!!! Ray

I'm no Brewmonkey - but here's my opinion....

Just let it come to room temp or even just slightly cooler than the wort (3-5 degrees cooler or so) - I've read that a slight temp difference(with the wort being the warmer of the two) between the wort and slurry causes the yeast to become active a little faster.

I've also used a tepid sinkful of water to bring the yeast up to temp a little faster.

[ray m]

Cool....thanks, Eddy. I think what I might do, for the sake of shits & giggles, is keep my starter remainder in reserve for emergency use only. My fermentation is really going strong on its 2nd day, so what I think I'll do is let the primary ferment go until the airlock bubbles are 10 sec. or so apart, then rack it onto the cherries, which I pitted & destemmed today. That way, there should be plenty of yeast in suspension. If not, then I'll just dump the leftover starter in.