Re-using yeast

[Jmac00]

so i read ppl re-use their yeast, i only do kits so never ever thought of re-using any yeast. When i do kits(brewhouse), i usually get better yeast then what comes in the kits. Last kit i did i used S-04, so i saved the yeast cake and used it yesterday on another kit....going great today. My question is, is there a limit number of times you can re-use the yeast?

[Jake]

I heard a couple different times that you can re-use as many times as you want, but you may start to get some weird flavours over time. I heard that 5 times tops according to a couple random youtube sources

[Shawn]

I don't think there's really a concrete answer for your question (big surprise, I know). It definitely depends on the type of yeast, and especially on the previous fermentation conditions.

For example, I wouldn't rush to re-use a yeast that had just been used in a OG 1.101 Russian Imperial Stout, for example, whether it was 1st generation, 3rd, 5th, etc.

I also wouldn't re-use yeast that I had dry-hopped on top of it with 6 ozs of hops... unless, maybe, you're using it for another really hoppy beer.

But, I'm sure others disagree; you can have lots of different results with different situations. But I have reused yeast a couple of times in cases where I probably shouldn't have, and the resulting beer was sub-par each time. In cases similar to those mentioned above, I'm now at the point where I'd rather just buy another pack of Wyeast instead of increasing the risk of a bad batch.

[Richard]

I agree with Shawn here - pretty much depends on the conditions the yeast was in. If it was stressed, or if the trub is full of other cack that's gonna mess with your profile - it's not gonna work so well.

[Jmac00]

Cool, thanks for all the help...only plan to re-use it maybe 2 or 3 times. I usually just buy new pkg everytime, but with the way NG keeps stock....well..you guys know..