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

Author Topic: Copper Cu+2 and mutation?  (Read 2073 times)

Offline JJeffers09

  • Senior Brewmaster
  • ******
  • Posts: 1127
Copper Cu+2 and mutation?
« on: October 29, 2016, 02:49:53 pm »
Just read that too much copper can cause unwanted yeast mutation and/or death as well as lend a hand in haze.  Copper is readily used in breweries, however when does it become too much?  What kind of mutations can be caused by copper?

Sent from my SM-S820L using Tapatalk
« Last Edit: October 30, 2016, 11:10:22 am by JJeffers09 »
"Beer is living proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy" - Benjamin Franklin

AHA Member
Indiana Brewers Union (IBU)

Offline erockrph

  • I must live here
  • **********
  • Posts: 7786
  • Chepachet, RI
    • The Hop WHisperer
Re: Copper Cu+2 and mutation?
« Reply #1 on: October 30, 2016, 06:31:18 pm »
I haven't seen much copper being used post-pitching in breweries. If there's no contact with the yeast, then that should take care of the concerns with mutation.

Sent from my XT1585 using Tapatalk

Eric B.

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

Offline Todd H.

  • Cellarman
  • **
  • Posts: 72
Re: Copper Cu+2 and mutation?
« Reply #2 on: October 31, 2016, 08:09:08 am »
I did my PhD in a yeast DNA repair and mutagenesis lab.  I'm pretty sure that copper in and of itself is not mutagenic.  Some copper complexes, sure, but I don't think copper ions are (at least not directly that I know of).

Even if it did cause mutations, unless the mutation was advantageous, the rest of the culture would presumably out-compete the mutant yeast just based on shear number of cells.  Maybe you would notice something with serial repitching, but I wouldn't really worry about this.

If using a little bit of copper (say in chilling) released enough copper ions into wort to be cytotoxic to yeast, I wouldn't be drinking beer.

The Beerery

  • Guest
Re: Copper Cu+2 and mutation?
« Reply #3 on: October 31, 2016, 08:44:25 am »
Just read that too much copper can cause unwanted yeast mutation and/or death as well as lend a hand in haze.  Copper is readily used in breweries, however when does it become too much?  What kind of mutations can be caused by copper?

Sent from my SM-S820L using Tapatalk

Very little copper used in breweries now a days(save for say old German and Belgian breweries), the Copper kettles you see are more likely just copper lined SS kettles.

Big Monk

  • Guest
Re: Copper Cu+2 and mutation?
« Reply #4 on: October 31, 2016, 10:04:22 am »
Just read that too much copper can cause unwanted yeast mutation and/or death as well as lend a hand in haze.  Copper is readily used in breweries, however when does it become too much?  What kind of mutations can be caused by copper?

Sent from my SM-S820L using Tapatalk

Very little copper used in breweries now a days(save for say old German and Belgian breweries), the Copper kettles you see are more likely just ornamental copper exteriors lined with SS.

So there is no confusion my friend!  ;)

Offline JJeffers09

  • Senior Brewmaster
  • ******
  • Posts: 1127
Re: Copper Cu+2 and mutation?
« Reply #5 on: November 01, 2016, 09:00:09 am »
Can it cause issues with Lacto starter?  I held my WLP677 in a copper tea kettle on a candle warmer for 18 days before pitching to a sour almost 4 months ago.  I was worried about the Copper mutation issues along with possibly causing an issue with the amount of copper leaked into the starter and causing an issue with the yeast.  Trying to build a solid "house sour" I am wondering what I could see/notice/taste if the strain mutates to something to be worried about in the future.
"Beer is living proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy" - Benjamin Franklin

AHA Member
Indiana Brewers Union (IBU)

Offline reverseapachemaster

  • Official Poobah of No Life. (I Got Ban Hammered by Drew)
  • *********
  • Posts: 3775
    • Brain Sparging on Brewing
Re: Copper Cu+2 and mutation?
« Reply #6 on: November 01, 2016, 09:23:24 am »
Can it cause issues with Lacto starter?  I held my WLP677 in a copper tea kettle on a candle warmer for 18 days before pitching to a sour almost 4 months ago.  I was worried about the Copper mutation issues along with possibly causing an issue with the amount of copper leaked into the starter and causing an issue with the yeast.  Trying to build a solid "house sour" I am wondering what I could see/notice/taste if the strain mutates to something to be worried about in the future.

I don't think mutation is necessarily a concern but copper is absorbed by LAB and particularly with lactobacillus strains commonly used in brewing it reduces cell viability which may have a deleterious effect on the souring ability of your culture.
Heck yeah I blog about homebrewing: Brain Sparging on Brewing

narvin

  • Guest
Re: Copper Cu+2 and mutation?
« Reply #7 on: November 01, 2016, 10:33:37 am »
Can it cause issues with Lacto starter?  I held my WLP677 in a copper tea kettle on a candle warmer for 18 days before pitching to a sour almost 4 months ago.  I was worried about the Copper mutation issues along with possibly causing an issue with the amount of copper leaked into the starter and causing an issue with the yeast.  Trying to build a solid "house sour" I am wondering what I could see/notice/taste if the strain mutates to something to be worried about in the future.

I don't think mutation is necessarily a concern but copper is absorbed by LAB and particularly with lactobacillus strains commonly used in brewing it reduces cell viability which may have a deleterious effect on the souring ability of your culture.

On the other hand, many traditional lambic producers have copper kettles, grants and coolships.  So in practice it has no effect, unless you're making a Berliner Weiss maybe, although many traditional German breweries also used copper.









Offline Saccharomyces

  • Senior Brewmaster
  • ******
  • Posts: 1136
  • Deus ex machina
Re: Copper Cu+2 and mutation?
« Reply #8 on: November 02, 2016, 03:51:20 am »
Todd is correct.  If a mutation occurs after the logarithmic phase, one will not see a major change until the culture has been propagated a few times due to the fact the non-mutated cells vastly outnumber the mutated cells. Petite mutation is example of a mutation that occurs over time.  It is result of damage to mitochondrial DNA.

http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1472-765X.2008.02360.x/pdf