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Hello folks,

I'm hoping to brew a Houblon Chouffe clone on Sunday, but the LHBS does not have any of the right yeast for it. Before going for an alternate strain, I figured I'd ask if anyone had an unused vial/pack or a slurry that I could grab? I'd be happy to repay you in more slurry and a bottle of the finished product. I've got a stir plate, so can work it up before Sunday.

Alternatively, anyone want to come over tonight and split four bottles of the real thing with me so I can get bottle dregs and get a starter going?

Thanks!

If I didn't just spend the last 2 days in bed I would be over helping you out. As another thought could you just pour off the bottles into a growler?

damn i only read the title of this earlier and didn't see the offer at the end! oh well.

i can't help you out with the yeast, sorry.

Hmm, no takers Wed, I'm going to try for tonight.
That'll still give me just shy of 3 days for a starter, would you think it's enough time to do a step up of the starter too? Start it in 500mL of 1.020, and then decant into 1.5L of 1.040? What do the yeast starter experts think?

It really repends, it could work, or may not be quite long enough. I've stepped up yeast from bottles / can, but only from one each. In my case it took several days for 250-300ml 1.040. That's on a stir plate too. With 4 bottles and possibly lots of yeast each you'll be in way better shape though.

How old are those beers? This sounds pretty slim for this weekend.

I've got three 750mL bottles, 1-2 years old... Might have been too ambitious for this weekend.

Lead time from NG was three weeks for the 3522, WLP550 through Everwood would be the same or slightly quicker, I believe.

Overnight it from OBK? They have 3522 in stock

Had you posted this two days earlier I could have gotten you some WLP550 fresh from the source. Regardless, I do have some 500 and 545 I'd be happy to share. In my opinion they are better than the 500.

chalmers wrote:Hmm, no takers Wed, I'm going to try for tonight.
That'll still give me just shy of 3 days for a starter, would you think it's enough time to do a step up of the starter too? Start it in 500mL of 1.020, and then decant into 1.5L of 1.040? What do the yeast starter experts think?

I don't have a lot of experience building starters from bottle dregs, but that seems rushed to me. I think you'd be at a pretty good risk for underpitching.

Thanks guys, I see now the error of my ways (waiting too long). I think it's decided that I won't be brewing it this weekend. As that is the case, I'll use this as my first go at stepping up bottle dregs for a brew.

Gm- thanks for the heads up, I also found WLP550 there, which is my preferred choice. However, overnight shipping at $30 is a bit rich for my blood, or expedited at $11, but unsure if it would be here in time. No complaints on the costs, just my own fault for not being on too of things.

KMcK, I chose WLP550 as it is supposed to be harvested from Achouffe directly, and I wanted to go for a clone of the Houblon Chouffe, so wanted to use the same yeast.

Chris, I meant to ask, if you're not in a hurry, why not just get Noble Grape to order in the 3522 for you? Granted, it might take a few weeks (depending on where they are in their ordering schedule), but at least you know you'd get a fresh smackpack.

I was quoted 3-4 weeks from NG, so that's certainly a possibility, but since it can't happen this weekend, I'm no longer in a rush, and will just take my time and enjoy the bottle-dregs-step-up-process.

chalmers wrote:I was quoted 3-4 weeks from NG, so that's certainly a possibility, but since it can't happen this weekend, I'm no longer in a rush, and will just take my time and enjoy the bottle-dregs-step-up-process.

You mean enjoy the emptying the bottles...