Hi Gang! A little background, I live on a caribbean island where temperatures average 80F and are mostly in the mid 80,s. knowing this now we have no airconditioning which brings me to these questions and or findings.
1. We love dark ale and it turns out that is about the only yeast that is compatible (mostly) with our location. We use the Wyeast London ESB.
2. One of our batches we did with the propogator type we screwed up by activating it but not waiting or mixing, by mistake we pitched it in directly! The result after 7 days in the fermenter (yes 7 as it is warm here and doesnt take long to ferment) and racking for ten more was fantastic! It had a nice flavor, good alc % and left a wonderful nutty aftertaste. We had made many other batches before but this one we tried a local honey and some corn sugar in it. Our most excellent beer yet with an good head, carbonation and taste/effect.
3. I farmed the yeast from that batch and propogated some more to make the next batch or present one. So far it has been only seven days after racking but it doesnt taste anything like the last batch. All the same procedures and ings were used... any ideas? maybe the fact that I used the previous yeast? Or maybe a little longer racking and it will turn?
I ask these questions as it is impossible to get the wyeast here without it going bad unless one of us (the wife or I) are in the US at the time to bring it on the plane ourselves so we have to keep our own yeast. I read the yeast section here online but it talks about feeding the yeast but lists things that are not available here nor can we find it online unless it is called yeast food or vitamins and is too costly to use. I am up for any recommendations and or processes to keep our yeast in good health. I am getting ready to purchase flasks and stoppers and etc. rather than use our pickle jars as we have been. I don't think the yeast is contaminated as the beer is still good but I cannot replicate that excellent batch, maybe that is the elusive one?
Mark
Thanks Nolan. It looks like I may not be able to produce that again as now another batch is brewing and looking good. Wish I could duplicate it though because as I said it was some really excellent beer. AS it happens I suppose......