Top crop or bottom harvest?

Share your experiences of using brewing yeast.
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guypettigrew
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Top crop or bottom harvest?

Post by guypettigrew » Sat May 25, 2019 1:06 pm

In my 'fridge are one jar each of top cropped and bottom harvested 'Fermentum Mobile' FM11 Heathery Heights yeast. Both from the same brew, a 1.051 dark ale.

Which of the two would be best to use for the next brew? Or would you mix them?

Thanks.

Guy

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Trefoyl
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Re: Top crop or bottom harvest?

Post by Trefoyl » Sat May 25, 2019 5:29 pm

Yeast on the bottom stratifies into layers and unless you have a conical to collect only the middle portion, my guess would be top crop for freshest, most active yeast.
Sommeliers recommend that you swirl a glass of wine and inhale its bouquet before throwing it in the face of your enemy.

guypettigrew
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Re: Top crop or bottom harvest?

Post by guypettigrew » Sat May 25, 2019 5:39 pm

Should have said, the bottom yeast was collected from a SS chronical.

Guy

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Trefoyl
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Re: Top crop or bottom harvest?

Post by Trefoyl » Sun May 26, 2019 1:49 pm

I don’t usually repitch yeast more than two or three times so usually just scoop some off the bottom because I don’t have a conical. I just got a slant of Cullercoats though and will top crop that as I use it and hope it stays clean and viable.
Sommeliers recommend that you swirl a glass of wine and inhale its bouquet before throwing it in the face of your enemy.

guypettigrew
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Re: Top crop or bottom harvest?

Post by guypettigrew » Mon May 27, 2019 7:41 pm

Any more thoughts from anyone?

It's getting perilously close to the point where I'm going to have to throw one away to allow for harvesting the Fermentum Mobile FM52 'American Dream' I'll be trying with tomorrow's brew.

Guy

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john luc
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Re: Top crop or bottom harvest?

Post by john luc » Mon May 27, 2019 8:26 pm

How about using one of these.
The creamy bit is wlp002 slurry second generation.
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Eric
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Re: Top crop or bottom harvest?

Post by Eric » Mon May 27, 2019 9:59 pm

Depends upon the yeast. If it's real top fermenting, then top-crop will keep it working at its best.

While WLP002 provides a good looking head, it's too light to merit constant top cropping and slurry would be a better choice. I wouldn't know about FM11, but most Northern yeasts were either Burton or Yorkshire types and heavy top fermenters.
Without patience, life becomes difficult and the sooner it's finished, the better.

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