Episode 189: Long Term Yeast Storage

Master Brewers Podcast

For smaller brewers, yeast management can be a challenging prospect. Many mid-size to small breweries attempt to make a wide range of beer styles that require a plethora of yeast strains. Due to production limitations, brewers are often forced to stretch yeast pitching windows or purchase brand new yeast pitches at a dramatically high cost. A study was performed to evaluate potential media that would allow for adequate dormancy and viability of harvested yeast slurries for long term re-pitching opportunity. Various media were added to decanted yeast slurry and viability was measured over determined time periods to track health of the stored yeast. Results indicate that monopotassium phosphate, standard distilled water, alkaline mineral water, and a solution with sunflower oil all provide varying degrees of health preservation of long storage periods up to one month. Minimal changes were observed with adequate dilutions and these results will be discussed.

Special Guest: Matt Couch.

Sponsored By:

• Hopsteiner:
• Proximity Malt:
• BSG:
• The Lupulin Exchange:
• Berkeley Yeast:

Links:

• Poster 155 - Long Term Yeast Storage: Novel Approaches — 2020 World Brewing Congress
• Olive Oil Addition to Yeast as an Alternative to Wort Aeration — 2008 MBAA TQ
• Brewing Fundamentals, Part 2: Fundamentals of Yeast Nutrition — 2016 MBAA TQ
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