I made 10 gals of Maerzen in, well, March, and it has been lagering at 31deg on the yeast cake since March 31. Last week I fined one of the ferms with gelatin and one with Polyclar, just to see which cleared better. I’m planning an Oktoberfest on June 17. Should I even consider harvesting the yeast from one of those fermenters at this point or just suck it up and buy fresh WY2278?
I wouldn’t harvest it after you fined it.
i would not pitch on top of it but i don’t see a reason not to take some and build a new starter. incidentally
what is the difference between your marzen and your octoberfest?
Oktoberfest in June? Who ever heard of such a thing? That is like the commercial stores putting out Christmas stuff before Haloween - oh, wait, they do that now. :o
As for harvesting the yeast, +1 on not after you fined it.
i think june is the perfect time to brew a fest. done fermenting in mid july. lager finished in mid september, few weeks for conditioning. in fact i need to prep one.
Traditionally I think Oktoberfests were brewed in April, so June would actually be late!
+1 to not using the yeast after fining.
Dave