Automatic top cropping

[rpt]

I've been using White Labs WLP-022 Essex Ale yeast on my last few batches. I've been fermenting about 20L in an SS Brewtech Brewbucket which is about 26L or so in capacity. I've always used a blow off tube at the start of fermentation but this is the first time much has come out and into the bottle. On the first brew with WLP-022 I noticed that the blow off bottle appeared to contain some nice looking yeast. Not knowing whether or not the Starsan in the bottle had killed the yeast I made up a 1L starter with it. It started fermenting very quickly and after a couple of days I harvested the yeast and stored it in the fridge. After about 12 days I brewed again and took 30mL of the stored yeast from the fridge and made a 1L starter and pitched this into the wort a day later. This time I collected about 250mL of yeast directly from the blow off bottle. This was pitched directly into the next brew a month later, with no starter. Once again fermentation went very well and I've collected about 200mL of yeast which is in the fridge to be used next time. One thing I have been careful to do is to allow the yeast in the blow off tube to ferment out and start building up its reserves before transferring it to the fridge. This time I replaced the blow off with an airlock but kept the bottle in the fermentation fridge with a foil cap.

I love the ease with which I am able to collect the yeast and how clean it is compared to bottom cropping. It's also allowed me to dry hop by just throwing the hops loose into the fermenter rather than mucking about with a tea ball.

White Labs describe WLP-022 as well suited for top cropping and I see they also say this about WLP-039 East Midlands. I think I've also heard that WLP-023 Burton Ale and Wyeast 1469 West Yorkshire are also good top croppers. I will try these other strains at some point but I shall see how long I can keep the Essex yeast going. Although a Yorkshire resident I was born in Essex so it seems appropriate.

[McMullan]

Much better than slurry

[orlando]

Not knowing whether or not the Starsan in the bottle had killed the yeast I made up a 1L starter with it.

This thread should help you with that question.

[rpt]

I think the fact the yeast was very happy despite landing in a pool of Starsan has answered the question, at least for this application.