reusing yeast cake but changing recipes

[leftcoastbrewer]

hey guys! i was planning on reusing my yeast at the bottom (WP001) of the carboy from my first batch of a hoppy red ale (5 gallon batch)...... i was told that i could go darker with the next batch but not to go lighter. i was thinking about making a honey blond ale.

does anyone see any inherent problems with doing this?

 

[ong]

hey guys! i was planning on reusing my yeast at the bottom (WP001) of the carboy from my first batch of a hoppy red ale (5 gallon batch)...... i was told that i could go darker with the next batch but not to go lighter. i was thinking about making a honey blond ale.

does anyone see any inherent problems with doing this?

If you just pitch onto the dregs, you might pick up a little flavor from the red. You would probably be over pitching, too -- I'd use a quarter or a third of your cake to avoid both, probably.

 

[DocScott]

Not at all. Just realize that the red may impart some darker color to the blonde and you will probably be over pitching a bit for the blonde. I've done exactly what you're proposing with good results.

There are some minor draw backs as I listed above, but no reason in my mind not to do it.

 

[kh54s10]

You could also wash the yeast and get rid of most of the color and flavor.
There are plenty of posts on how to do it.

 

[leftcoastbrewer]

thanks for the responses....

i have read and saw a few videos on harvesting the yeast.... my main concern is messing with things and introducing infection. i just figured if i re-poured on top i could avoid possible contamination.....

i think i am going to give it a shot on thursday. going to brew the honey blonde while bottling the hoppy red... gotta a buddy that helps me so i hope i can juggle both at the same time