I have my first 100% Brett beer fermenting (about 20 days in). I used a 3L starter of Brett trois and 1.5L starter of Brett lambicus all pitched together in primary. I haven’t taken a reading yet but likely plan to transfer to secondary soon. I wanted to wash the yeast and re-use if this beer turns out good as it took awhile to build up all that Brett in the starters. Is there anything I should know about washing Brett before I transfer? Anything different from normal sacc yeast washing practices? I know it will be a mixed culture obviously but I am ok with that especially if the initial Brett beer comes out well. Thanks.
Before you do anything, take a look at this thread:
https://www.homebrewersassociation.org/forum/index.php?topic=19850.0
It might save you a ton of work and help improve your beer as well.
Very interesting. So if I understand this correctly- I can simply rack my beer, swirl the remaining beer ((1/2 inch or so), pour into sterilized container and decant liquid with yeast after a brief settling time to a separate sterile container and store that beer and suspended yeast for later use? With Brett I guess I’d worry about it continuing to propagate in whatever sugars may still remain and in a closed container may not be a good idea. Could always store with an airlock I guess. It’ll be in the fridge so certainly going slower whatever the case. Feeding it extra beer up front seems less necessary if I expect to use in a few months.
Yes thats it. And if you’re worried about pressure just crack the lid to vent once a week or so.
If you use a mason jar then you stick the lid on then screw the top down only part - way. This way the jar won’t get pressurized.
Brett will last longer at normal temperatures over fridge temps. Store under an airlock to be safe.
I store my cropped yeast cultures in 500ml Erlenmeyer flasks with #7 rubber stoppers and airlocks. A six-pack of Corning 4980-500 500ml Erlenmeyer flasks can be had for $26.14 with free shipping on orders over $35.00 at Amazon (Amazon.com).
So if I harvest the yeast and feed it a little bit (500ml wort) how long can I expect it to remain viable and ready to pitch in another batch? Probably would feed again a day or two prior to next brew day just to rev it up a bit
you don’t need to feed it until you are ready to use it. just leave it in some of the beer. it will stay viable for a long time. weeks for sure, months likely. make a starter when you are ready to repitch if it’s been more than a couple weeks though.
Brett is seemingly indestructible. I would give its shelf life somewhere between months and years.