Yeast Starter - Which Layer

[SMP Brewery]

So the times I’ve propagated yeast has been after fermentation, I transfer some of what’s left in the bottom of the fermenter put it in the fridge and drain off the top, done washing it once I think but that was a faff. I’m going to do a brew this weekend with what’s still in the fermenter. Dumped it from the bottom drain and I’m now not sure which part to use as normally I have beer top and yeast bottom, with this I have 3 layers. The question is what layer should I be using.

 

[SMP Brewery]

Forgot to say the beer I’ve taken it off is still fermenting, be it near the end.

 

[SMP Brewery]

Decided that the top layer looked more like yeast than the bottom and so I spooned some of that out and created a starter which is now bubbling away nicely.

 

[The-Engineer-That-Brews]

I asked a similar question a while ago, and I think to be honest I think all the cloudy bits are pretty high in yeast so you can't go far wrong. The lower level probably contains more trub and dead cells though - so reckon go with the top layer

 

[The-Engineer-That-Brews]

Incidentally I've been told to make the covering over the flask loose (e.g. a chunk of cotton wool or loosely fitted foil), just to allow a bit of gas exchange with the air ...
Pretty sure the yeast won't mind tho ;-)

 

[SMP Brewery]

I normally use foil but we seemed to have run out, normally have some safety stock in our camper but that was empty too, so had to use cling film.

 

[user 47834]

So the times I’ve propagated yeast has been after fermentation, I transfer some of what’s left in the bottom of the fermenter put it in the fridge and drain off the top, done washing it once I think but that was a faff. I’m going to do a brew this weekend with what’s still in the fermenter. Dumped it from the bottom drain and I’m now not sure which part to use as normally I have beer top and yeast bottom, with this I have 3 layers. The question is what layer should I be using.

Was that dumped from a conical? Looks really lively and ready to go!

 

[SMP Brewery]

Was that dumped from a conical? Looks really lively and ready to go!

It was dumped from a conical, the beer it went into was off and running in a few hours.