Membership questions? Log in issues? Email info@brewersassociation.org

Author Topic: Yeast nutrient  (Read 11322 times)

Offline troybinso

  • Brewer
  • ****
  • Posts: 475
Yeast nutrient
« on: January 24, 2013, 08:52:35 am »
I have a couple of different jars of yeast nutrient in my brewing supplies drawer, including one called "yeast energizer". I typically will throw in a pinch or so in my starters, but I don't always remember and I can't say I have noticed a difference when I use it.

Do any of you have strong opinions one way or the other about yeast nutrients?

Offline tygo

  • I spend way too much time on the AHA forum
  • ********
  • Posts: 2622
  • Sterling, VA
Re: Yeast nutrient
« Reply #1 on: January 24, 2013, 09:03:35 am »
I use nutrients in most of my starters and every batch in the boil but I wouldn't say I have a strong feeling.  Always just seemed to me like a cheap insurance policy that can't hurt.
Clint
Wort Hogs

Offline a10t2

  • Official Poobah of No Life. (I Got Ban Hammered by Drew)
  • *********
  • Posts: 4696
  • Ask me why I don't like Chico!
    • SeanTerrill.com
Re: Yeast nutrient
« Reply #2 on: January 24, 2013, 09:46:38 am »
I've never used it, I guess just because I've never had any apparent problems, so I never bought any. I actually have a jar of DAP that someone left at my house, and I still don't use it.

I view it as being like a multi-vitamin for humans. It won't do any harm, but as long as you have healthy yeast and feed them a healthy diet, it won't change anything.
Sent from my Microsoft Bob

Beer is like porn. You can buy it, but it's more fun to make your own.
Refractometer Calculator | Batch Sparging Calculator | Two Mile Brewing Co.

Offline erockrph

  • I must live here
  • **********
  • Posts: 7788
  • Chepachet, RI
    • The Hop WHisperer
Re: Yeast nutrient
« Reply #3 on: January 24, 2013, 12:13:25 pm »
The only time I've ever used yeast nutrient is in mead & maple wine. Every time I brew a big beer, I think to myself "I really meant to put some yeast nutrient in there". But they've all turned out fine regardless.

If I ever tried to brew a HUGE beer (like over 15%), I'd be tempted to do something like a small staggered nutrient addition schedule.
Eric B.

Finally got around to starting a homebrewing blog: The Hop Whisperer

Offline tschmidlin

  • I must live here
  • **********
  • Posts: 8198
  • Redmond, WA
Re: Yeast nutrient
« Reply #4 on: January 24, 2013, 12:52:03 pm »
I use it in all of my beers, and it is especially important for mead.

There are many different types of yeast nutrients that are marketed under different names with the same ingredients or the same name but different ingredients - it's frustrating, but you really need to know what you have.  I recommend a complete nutrient like Wyeast Nutrient Blend for all your beers, but especially if the yeast is being repitched.  You might not need it for every batch, but the first time you leave it out and needed it you'll regret it.  I view it as cheap insurance.
Tom Schmidlin

Offline kramerog

  • Brewmaster General
  • *******
  • Posts: 2262
    • My LinkedIn page
Re: Yeast nutrient
« Reply #5 on: January 24, 2013, 01:31:53 pm »
I have a generic "yeast nutrient" that supplies nitrogen and phosphorous.  I have a generic "yeast energizer" that supplies vitamins and trace minerals including zinc.  Generally, I don't use either except for meads.  I might use the energizer for my next saison that uses the finicky Dupont yeast, which I have not worked with before, and for very big beers, which need more zinc apparently.

Offline Joe Sr.

  • Official Poobah of No Life. (I Got Ban Hammered by Drew)
  • *********
  • Posts: 4467
  • Chicago - NORTH SIDE
Re: Yeast nutrient
« Reply #6 on: January 24, 2013, 01:54:27 pm »
I recommend a complete nutrient like Wyeast Nutrient Blend for all your beers, but especially if the yeast is being repitched.

How and when would you add it?  In the starter?  Or to the wort?

I must have two or three bottles of nutrient that I've never used and recently bought a bottle figuring I should use it and not remembering that I have several already...
It's all in the reflexes. - Jack Burton

Offline davidgzach

  • Senior Brewmaster
  • ******
  • Posts: 1698
Re: Yeast nutrient
« Reply #7 on: January 24, 2013, 02:01:21 pm »
I use it in every brew as well.  Cheap insurance as already stated.  I add with Whirfloc and my IC at 10 minutes left in the boil.

Dave
Dave Zach

Offline ynotbrusum

  • Official Poobah of No Life. (I Got Ban Hammered by Drew)
  • *********
  • Posts: 4880
Re: Yeast nutrient
« Reply #8 on: January 24, 2013, 03:14:32 pm »
I use it in every brew as well.  Cheap insurance as already stated.  I add with Whirfloc and my IC at 10 minutes left in the boil.

Dave

+1 every time, unless I forget - but I am repitching, almost always.  I am about 6-8 batches in with my WLP 800 and 34/70 batches.
Hodge Garage Brewing: "Brew with a glad heart!"

Offline Jimmy K

  • Official Poobah of No Life. (I Got Ban Hammered by Drew)
  • *********
  • Posts: 3643
  • Delaware
Re: Yeast nutrient
« Reply #9 on: January 24, 2013, 03:21:02 pm »
"Yeast energizer" is probably DAP or diammonium phosphate, which is pretty much meth for yeast. It's great for getting yeast to finish a big beer, but it's not really what you want for yeast starter unless it also contains nutrients and/or yeast hulls. You're trying to build yeast health, not just get them to work faster/harder. Yeast hulls is just dead yeast which the yeast will scavenge for micronutrients. DAP really isn't helping in a low gravity starter wort which the yeast can easily ferment anyway.
Delmarva United Homebrewers - President by inverse coup - former president ousted himself.
AHA Member since 2006
BJCP Certified: B0958

Offline tschmidlin

  • I must live here
  • **********
  • Posts: 8198
  • Redmond, WA
Re: Yeast nutrient
« Reply #10 on: January 25, 2013, 01:11:00 am »
I recommend a complete nutrient like Wyeast Nutrient Blend for all your beers, but especially if the yeast is being repitched.

How and when would you add it?  In the starter?  Or to the wort?

I must have two or three bottles of nutrient that I've never used and recently bought a bottle figuring I should use it and not remembering that I have several already...
You can go either way, starter or in the boil.  I put it in the last 15 minutes of the boil, but I don't make starters and am repitching fresh yeast slurry.  If I were to make a starter, I might throw a little in there but mostly it is just in the boil.
Tom Schmidlin

Offline dbarber

  • Brewer
  • ****
  • Posts: 353
Re: Yeast nutrient
« Reply #11 on: January 25, 2013, 06:33:25 am »
I don't know that I've made a beer without yeast nutrients.  I use Wyeast Nutrient blend, a pinch in my starters and 1/2 tsp with 10 min left in the boil.
Dave Barber
Orwigsburg, PA
AHA Member, BJCP National

Offline mmitchem

  • Brewer
  • ****
  • Posts: 358
  • Suffolk, VA
    • http://www.barfclub.org
Re: Yeast nutrient
« Reply #12 on: January 25, 2013, 07:25:11 am »
I don't know that I've made a beer without yeast nutrients.  I use Wyeast Nutrient blend, a pinch in my starters and 1/2 tsp with 10 min left in the boil.

I do this as well. Is it necessary to do it at both the starter stage and in the boil. I really havent given much thought to it until now. What say you all?
Michael P Mitchem
Beer and Ale Research Foundation (B.A.R.F.)
AHA Member since 2011

Offline davidgzach

  • Senior Brewmaster
  • ******
  • Posts: 1698
Re: Yeast nutrient
« Reply #13 on: January 25, 2013, 07:59:58 am »
I use mostly Wyeast so I do not add nutrient to my starters, only to the boil.

Dave
Dave Zach

Offline reverseapachemaster

  • Official Poobah of No Life. (I Got Ban Hammered by Drew)
  • *********
  • Posts: 3777
    • Brain Sparging on Brewing
Re: Yeast nutrient
« Reply #14 on: January 25, 2013, 08:11:16 am »
I definitely use it in mead and big beers but usually leave it out of smaller beers unless I feel like I am underpitching and don't have the time to step up a starter.

I also use it when trying to grow up from a really small quantity of cells. It probably wouldn't hurt when trying to bottle harvest although I haven't done that myself.
Heck yeah I blog about homebrewing: Brain Sparging on Brewing