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Author Topic: Yeast nutrient, Yea or Nay?  (Read 1678 times)

Offline Silver_Is_Money

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Yeast nutrient, Yea or Nay?
« on: July 22, 2020, 04:28:38 am »
Do you or don't you add yeast nutrient to the Wort in your fermenter?  If you use it, what type(s), and at what quantities?  What benefit have you seen from using it?

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Re: Yeast nutrient, Yea or Nay?
« Reply #1 on: July 22, 2020, 04:50:40 am »
I add yeast nutrient as cheap insurance.  Wyeast is the brand I use.  I add a half teaspoon per 5 gallons of wort.  I find a quick start and good attenuation using it.  I have not done side by side analysis with untreated wort, however, so this is purely anecdotal on my part.
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Offline Semper Sitientem

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Re: Yeast nutrient, Yea or Nay?
« Reply #2 on: July 22, 2020, 05:23:38 am »
I add yeast nutrient as cheap insurance.  Wyeast is the brand I use.  I add a half teaspoon per 5 gallons of wort.  I find a quick start and good attenuation using it.  I have not done side by side analysis with untreated wort, however, so this is purely anecdotal on my part.

+1. Same reason, same amount, same results.
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Offline dmtaylor

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Re: Yeast nutrient, Yea or Nay?
« Reply #3 on: July 22, 2020, 05:33:25 am »
I have used nutrient on stuck fermentations with good results.  However 95% of the time I don't use it, haven't seen any need.  Only reason I would is if I were reusing the same yeast like 4 or 5 times, then it makes sense.  Otherwise no.
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Offline BrewBama

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Re: Yeast nutrient, Yea or Nay?
« Reply #4 on: July 22, 2020, 05:49:43 am »
I use 2 tsp Fermax in 21 liters of wort.

I routinely use Bry-97 which is notorious for a long lag. I’ve seen up to 36 hrs without the nutrient. With the nutrient I get between 14-18 hr lag time with Bry-97.

I get vigorous fermentation and complete attenuation in a week which fits my pipeline schedule nicely.


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Offline KellerBrauer

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Re: Yeast nutrient, Yea or Nay?
« Reply #5 on: July 22, 2020, 06:00:22 am »
I add yeast nutrient as cheap insurance.  Wyeast is the brand I use.  I add a half teaspoon per 5 gallons of wort.  I find a quick start and good attenuation using it.  I have not done side by side analysis with untreated wort, however, so this is purely anecdotal on my part.

+1. Same reason, same amount, same results.

+2 - same, same, same.
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Offline Bob357

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Re: Yeast nutrient, Yea or Nay?
« Reply #6 on: July 22, 2020, 07:11:06 am »
A half teaspoon in every boil, just for cheap insurance. Been using Wyeast Nutrient for a couple of years and Fermaid-K before that. Always quick starts and complete fermentations. Is that due to the nutrient? don't know, but it surely doesn't hurt.
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Offline goose

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Re: Yeast nutrient, Yea or Nay?
« Reply #7 on: July 22, 2020, 07:14:21 am »
I add yeast nutrient as cheap insurance.  Wyeast is the brand I use.  I add a half teaspoon per 5 gallons of wort.  I find a quick start and good attenuation using it.  I have not done side by side analysis with untreated wort, however, so this is purely anecdotal on my part.

+1. Same reason, same amount, same results.

+2 - same, same, same.

+3.  I also use a pinch of yeast nutrient when making my starters.  To me, it seems to get things going a bit faster.
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Offline denny

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Re: Yeast nutrient, Yea or Nay?
« Reply #8 on: July 22, 2020, 08:21:49 am »
I add yeast nutrient as cheap insurance.  Wyeast is the brand I use.  I add a half teaspoon per 5 gallons of wort.  I find a quick start and good attenuation using it.  I have not done side by side analysis with untreated wort, however, so this is purely anecdotal on my part.

+1. Same reason, same amount, same results.

Same here
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Offline denny

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Re: Yeast nutrient, Yea or Nay?
« Reply #9 on: July 22, 2020, 08:22:49 am »
I use 2 tsp Fermax in 21 liters of wort.

I routinely use Bry-97 which is notorious for a long lag. I’ve seen up to 36 hrs without the nutrient. With the nutrient I get between 14-18 hr lag time with Bry-97.

I get vigorous fermentation and complete attenuation in a week which fits my pipeline schedule nicely.


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I'll try to ask my friends at Lallemand about this.  I'm curious.
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Offline Andy Farke

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Re: Yeast nutrient, Yea or Nay?
« Reply #10 on: July 22, 2020, 08:53:03 am »
I use nutrient (Fermax) for batches that I feel "need it"...anything where the yeast might be under more stress than usual. Examples include cases where I am repitching a culture, starting at a low fermentation temperature, high percentage of non-barley adjuncts, or high starting gravity. For standard stuff (ales under ~1.070 s.g. and fermenting in the 65 to 70 degree range with a freshly purchased yeast pitch), I don't bother.
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Offline BrewBama

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Re: Yeast nutrient, Yea or Nay?
« Reply #11 on: July 22, 2020, 09:06:30 am »
I use 2 tsp Fermax in 21 liters of wort.

I routinely use Bry-97 which is notorious for a long lag. I’ve seen up to 36 hrs without the nutrient. With the nutrient I get between 14-18 hr lag time with Bry-97.

I get vigorous fermentation and complete attenuation in a week which fits my pipeline schedule nicely.


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I'll try to ask my friends at Lallemand about this.  I'm curious.
Please let us know what your source says. Mine recommended it.


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Offline kramerog

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Re: Yeast nutrient, Yea or Nay?
« Reply #12 on: July 22, 2020, 09:46:10 am »
No nutrients unless gravity will exceed 1.060 due to wort not having enough zinc.  While less of a concern for home brewing than for commercial brewing, excess nutrients makes the finished beer less biologically stable.

Offline hopfenundmalz

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Re: Yeast nutrient, Yea or Nay?
« Reply #13 on: July 22, 2020, 09:53:27 am »
I use Wyeast nutrient every batch.
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Offline denny

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Re: Yeast nutrient, Yea or Nay?
« Reply #14 on: July 22, 2020, 09:59:11 am »
I use 2 tsp Fermax in 21 liters of wort.

I routinely use Bry-97 which is notorious for a long lag. I’ve seen up to 36 hrs without the nutrient. With the nutrient I get between 14-18 hr lag time with Bry-97.

I get vigorous fermentation and complete attenuation in a week which fits my pipeline schedule nicely.


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I'll try to ask my friends at Lallemand about this.  I'm curious.
Please let us know what your source says. Mine recommended it.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Someone at Lallemand?  If so, there's no need for me to repeat it.
Life begins at 60.....1.060, that is!

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