So, lately I've been thinking about making my own yeast bank, to store a a couple yeast strains that I particularly like (Wyeast and White Labs varieties). However, I am unable to put in the time that this would require, and I also don't want to pay for a bunch of equipment to get started. It would kinda negate the savings, seeing as how there are only 2 or 3 strains that I am really interested in acquiring.

I was recently reading my copy of Dave Miller's Homebrewing Guide (great read, BTW), and I ran across a reference to something call Yeast Bank (TM). With my curiosity piqued, I began to search for it online. It took a bit of digging, but I did find someplace that carries it. From what I've read about it, it seems like a much easier alternative to making slants and messing with petri dishes. My question is, has anyone tried using this? If so, what did you like about it? What did you hate about it?

http://www.countrywines.com/product_det ... 0&product={38F1E0C9-59BF-4A41-A4C7-B556FFC37F13}

Thanks and...

Cheers
Dave


Tags:
brewing yeast bank cultures, glycerine yeast bank,homebrewing books, Dave Miller, petri dishes in beer brewing, storing my own yeast

I have not tried this method but it intrigues me so I've read up on it a b it.

It is best of them to be placed in a freezer that does not have the frost-free feature. The heating and thawing that removes the frost it not good for yeast viability.

Ideally it is best to avoid putting the yeast in a frost-free freezer. However, I have heard of people placing their yeast containing tubes in pure alcohol which would super cool them and help prevent damage. Alternatively, I've also hear of people placing the tubes within some water and freezing the water and tubes together. Also some place the tubes within a small cooler packed with blue ice which is then placed in their frost-free freezer.

The kit you are referring to should do the trick but you really don't need it. All you need is some test tubes and glycerin (USP grade) and you set to go.

Here is a nice write up on how to freeze your yeast: http://www.ipass.net/mpdixon/Homebrew/Freezing%20Yeast.htm.

I tend to disagree with the above link with respect to santizing the glycerin.

I would recommend sterilization rather than sanitization. For this, I recommend adding the glycerin/water solution to Pyrex test tubes and then place the caps on VERY lightl. The tubes should then be place in a pressure cooker and heated at about 15 psi for 10 minutes or so. Alternatively one could place the tubes in a double boiler and boiled for 20 minutes. However, as I have said before sterilization with the pressure cooker is preferrable. The amount of yeast you are using is small so the risks of contamination are even greater than usual.

Of course, if you use the solution from the kit is should already be sterilized so the point is kind of moot should you go that route.

At any rate, I hope this helps.

- Scott

Scott,

Thanks for the reply! I also have been researching this procedure, and realized the fact that the kit wasn't actually necessary. Here's a how-to for the procedure with the sterilization step you mention:
http://www.homebrewtalk.com/f13/guide-m ... ank-35891/

One thing I do like about the kit, is that their tubes come packaged pre-sterilized. Since I don't have a pressure cooker, the kit is probably the best option for me right now.

Still in all, this is a very cool option for someone who'd like to keep a few yeast cultures, without the hassle and expense of agar plating.

Cheers
Dave

That's a pretty good link.

Thanks Dave!

If you do indeed freeze your yeast please let me know how it goes. I've been looking into doing this for years.

- Scott

Well, I've got the Yeast Bank and a tube of WLP500 yeast on the way. Let's see if this works!


Cheers
Dave

I've got the Yeast Bank and the WLP500 in, so now I just need to find time to brew. I don't want to make a starter if I don't have some wort to pitch it in. The directions seem pretty simple, so there should be no problems there. The tubes that come with the kit are actually quite a bit larger than I originally thought. You can purchase extra tubes from Country Wine, if you want. It looks like they'll hold a fair amount of yeast. I may have to step up my starter once or twice to get enough yeast to freeze, and still have a decent sized starter for my beer. I plan on saving between 3 and 5 tubes of my first starter. I probably won't do more than about 3 generations from one vial, for sanitary reasons (if this works). If I make between 3 and 5 tubes every time I make a starter from one of my banked yeasts (for up to 3 generations), that adds up to between 39 and 65 pitchings from 1 vial of yeast! That's a pretty sizeable savings!

I'll let you guys know how it turns out.

Cheers
Dave

It's been about 6 months since I froze the WLP500 yeast. It's time to see if the Yeast Bank is any good! Today, I made a 1 liter starter with a relatively low gravity, unfroze a vial of yeast, and pitched it. In a couple days, we'll see exactly how well this worked out!

Cheers,
Dave

It took about 2 days, but the starter got very active and the yeast seem very viable! I wasn't sure that this would work well, as I didn't take very good care of the yeast while they were in my freezer. Originally, I set the vials of yeast in a glass of vodka to keep the temperature stable while opening/closing the freezer door, and during the freezer's thaw cycles. When I pulled the yeast out to revive them, the glass had turned over (who knows how long ago), and the vodka was long gone. Still, the yeast are doing well, and I look forward to brewing with them in the next couple days!

I cant wait to do this again with a different yeast strain!

Cheers,
Dave