biodarwin said:
Summer time is the main reason I am wanting to have my own yeast bank. While I do wash yeast, I had to order 5 different vials of yeast this summer for different styles I didn't have on hand. Each time they were pretty banged up when I got them.
5 x $7.99 = $40 not counting shipping, handling, ice packs, etc.
time is money, but money is also obviously money.
Frustration on the other hand is a real pisser.
It doesn't take much time if you brew 10gal 10-12 times per year and have to pay for yeast (especially if you are brewing lager) to justify the equipment necessary to harvest and bank yeast and count accurate cell counts for brewing. This is kind of where I am at. I did about 200% more brewing this year than last 3 years combined. I was a little cheapo on the yeast, preferring dry to liquid when possible. I am still at the point where I like to experiment and have fun with new yeasts though and see how they behave etc in different styles and so forth. I don't mind paying for malt and hops, but some strange quirk makes me reluctant to shell out the cash for yeast.
One reason, as you pointed out is the quality upon receipt for mail order yeasts (a necessity for me) in the summer months.
I also hate it when you need to get particular styles that are the limited release yeasts but aren't offered that month you want to brew it.
I am about 90% of the way, mentally, into doing slants, and washing, and the whole 9 yards it takes to get it done. The other 10% is telling me dry yeast is easy cheap and less time and money but ignore the lack of variety compared to liquid.
Ill be looking into those links. I really wish there were other homebrewers nearby that we could exchange yeasts. I don't think that once a month brewing with varied styles and a mix of ale and lager yeasts plus occasional wheat, and Belgian and kolsch brews, really condones itself to using a single strain and repitching each month. As a hobbyist especially as I have no lure to "turn pro".
TD