13,767
edits
Changes
m
no edit summary
This presents a sort of "catch 22" when growing ''Brettanomyces'' in a starter. The brewer must weigh the pros and cons of how much aeration to provide. If the ''Brettanomyces'' is going to be used in a [[100% Brettanomyces Fermentation]], for example, then a stir plate may be the best choice. If the ''Brettanomyces'' is instead being pitched in secondary with the intention of long aging, then having a high cell count isn't as necessary and the risk of adding more acetic acid/ethyl acetate to an aging beer is greater. If a lot of acetic acid is produced during the starter, it is advised to cold crash and decant the starter. ''Brettanomyces'' can have a difficult time flocculating and settling out, even when cold crashed. The brewer may need to allow a few days for the cells to fully sediment <ref>[https://www.facebook.com/groups/MilkTheFunk/permalink/1099473923414154/?comment_id=1099522943409252&offset=0&total_comments=25&comment_tracking=%7B%22tn%22%3A%22R%22%7D Conversation with Richard Preiss of Escarpment Yeast Labs on MTF. 6/26/2015.]</ref>. Additionally, ''Brettanomyces'' that is cold crashed may be slower to begin fermentation. If the brewer believes that the amount of acetic acid produced was insignificant, then cold crashing can be skipped and the entire starter can be pitched.
Although more experiments and probably needed, agitation is believed to be an important factor for any species of microbe (yeast and bacteria). Gentle stirring on a stir plate or orbital shaker, or frequent gentle manual agitation leads to faster growth and a higher number of organisms. Agitation keeps the microbes in solution. It also maximizes the microbes' access to nutrients and disperses waste evenly. In a non-agitated starter, the microbes are limited to the diffusion rate of nutrients, leading to a slower and more stressful growth <ref>[https://www.facebook.com/groups/MilkTheFunk/permalink/1168024059892473/?comment_id=1174865305875015&reply_comment_id=1176092372418975&total_comments=1&comment_tracking=%7B%22tn%22%3A%22R9%22%7D Conversation with Bryan Heit of Sui Generis Blog about starters and agitation. 11/09/2015.]</ref>.
Maintaining a temperature of 70°-80°F/20°-26°C should be adequate for most strains. ''Brettanomyces'' cell growth typically takes about 7-8 days to reach it's maximum growth <ref name="Yakobson_Propagation"></ref>. Thus, each step of a starter for Brett should be 7-8 days.
===Storing Brett===
Long term storage of ''Brettanomyces'' should be frozen with glycerol, rather than agar plates, which have been observed anecdotally to reduce viability of ''Brettanomyces'' over time <ref>[https://www.facebook.com/groups/MilkTheFunk/permalink/1083075848387295/?comment_id=1083272091701004&offset=0&total_comments=13&comment_tracking=%7B%22tn%22%3A%22R0%22%7D Conversation with Matt Humbard, Ritchie Preiss, and Jeff Melo on MTF. 6/4/2015.]</ref><ref>[https://www.facebook.com/groups/MilkTheFunk/permalink/1115768398451373/?comment_id=1115817201779826&offset=0&total_comments=34&comment_tracking=%7B%22tn%22%3A%22R9%22%7D Conversation with Nick Impellitteri on MTF regarding storing Brett on agar plates. 7/24/2015.]</ref>. Slants can provide storage for a few months up to 2+ years, depending on the type of slant used. For instructions on how to make slants at home capable of storing any microbe for potentially 2+ years, [http://suigenerisbrewing.blogspot.com/2015/11/easy-home-yeast-banking-and-video.html see Bryan Heit's video on Sui Generis Brewing (requires a pressure cooker)].
Regarding temperature, Chad Yakobson noted that after storing ''Brettanomyces'' in a refrigerated environment (we don't know how Chad was storing the ''Brettanomyces'' cultures when he observed this, for example on agar plates or slants or something else.), after 6 months the ''Brettanomyces'' would die. If ''Brettanomyces'' is stored cold, it will be very sluggish and slow to start fermentation. Non-pure cultures (such as beer bottle dregs with ''Brettanomyces'' in it) should be stored refrigerated. Making a starter is highly recommended if the ''Brettanomyces'' culture has been stored cold <ref>[http://youtu.be/AjVOzBtE27Y?t=43m Yakobson, Chad. Presentation at 2012 Music City Brew Off. At 43:00.]</ref>.