How do you know if your yeast is infected?

[Fal]

I collected yeast from the trub for the first time nearly 2 weeks ago. I'm planning on using it tomorrow, but how do you know if it's okay or if it got infected during the collection etc.

[Ciderhead]

I collected yeast from the trub for the first time nearly 2 weeks ago. I'm planning on using it tomorrow, but how do you know if it's okay or if it got infected during the collection etc.

did you follow tubes wiki on washing?
you gonna make a starter?

[Shanna]

Hi there,

I followed tubes advice on washing the trub from his wiki article and I ended up with loads of trub so I was a bit sceptical. however I persisted and used a vial of it to create a 2 litre starter. seeing a 2 litre mini brew taking on.the top of the fridge was interesting. it was a Californian ale yeast and every time I swirled three conical flask it filled the kitchen with a fruity smell. It worked.net out a treat as it cut the brewing time from two to one week. No sign of.net infection, it smelt great and the gravity sample I took I drank to check for off flavors were ok. The real test will be when I come to drink the first bottle.

Instructions were great.

Shanna

I collected yeast from the trub for the first time nearly 2 weeks ago. I'm planning on using it tomorrow, but how do you know if it's okay or if it got infected during the collection etc.

did you follow tubes wiki on washing?
you gonna make a starter?

[Fal]

I followed the wikki to step 4, they're still in jars in my fridge. I'm just wondering in general if there is a way to tell if your yeast is good before using it.

[Fal]

Thanks, just what I wanted to know

[Will_D]

Smell it. No other way of telling. Good yeast doesn't smell great, but if there's an infection it probably will smell bad.

Depending on the age you may also see:

A thin grey film on top - Not Good
A thicker wooly head - probably not good (but I am still invetigating a cider in a demi-john)

A film with dangling tentacles - NG
Floating white lumps - Not sure may be a malo-lactic strain ( also found in a wine of mine!! ) which is drinking nicely!

If the liquid has become thick/syrupy/ropey then Def. NG

HTH