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You are here: Home --> Forum Home --> Brewing Forum --> Brewing Discussion --> Let's talk Yeast Nutrient

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brewcrewkevin
Charter Member
Appleton, WI
66 Posts


So I'm looking at buying more yeast nutrient, because my last jar is running low. I currently have Wyeast's yeast nutrient, but I've never really put a lot of thought into it.

Now I'm looking on ritebrew for yeast nutrients, and there a few different varieties.

* Wyeast Yeast Nutrient - Vitamins, Minerals, Nitrogen, Zinc, Phosphates
* Biotin Powder - Removes undesirables from wort
* Yeast Energizer - Removes fatty acids
* Diammonium Phosphate (DAP) - High in Nitrogen

Does anybody know any of the key differences between them? Do you recommend one over the other?

I've never even really noticed a difference with and without the nutrient, to be honest. I add it because it's easy and I consider it a best practice.




Posted 34 days ago.

homebrewdad
Charter Member
Birmingham, AL
2480 Posts


I've used yeast nutrient for so long now, I couldn't tell you the differences.  I use a bit in my starters, then more in the beer itself.  Like you, I view it as a best practice... and since I made this change around the time that I made some others (such as really dialing in my temp control and moving to stirred starters), I can't speak as to exactly how important it is.



Posted 34 days ago.

brewcrewkevin
Charter Member
Appleton, WI
66 Posts


Sounds like I'm at a similar place as you. I went through a phase of just collecting and implementing best practices. Handled temp control, got an oxygenation kit, used yeast nutrients and water chemistry, acidified sparge water... all sorts of things. I don't really understand the impact of most of them, all I know is it makes good beer all together.

But I was just sort of taken back at how many varieties of yeast nutrient there is on the market, and just thought... I wonder if anybody else understands what's needed for yeast health more than I do?




Posted 34 days ago.

vinpaysdoc
Charter Member
High Point, NC
321 Posts


Let's see, I've tried DAP and then switched to Servomyces (whoa, that's pretty expensive). I did so after reading about the need for zinc. About the same time I looked into the Wyeast nutrient, ordered some, and got the 'Wine Yeast Nutrient'. I called the shop and they simply sent me a vial of the 'Beer Yeast Nutrient' while I had a message in to Wyeast. Wyeast confirmed what I suspected, they're exactly the same. I've been using that since and will likely continue using it as 'best practice'.



Posted 34 days ago.

mchrispen
Bastrop, TX
485 Posts


I know of at least 4 breweries here in the Austin area that swear by Servomyces. Completely a single data point - but my fermentations have finished more consistently and closer to the max listed attenuation (and beyond) using Servo over the Wyeast yeast nutrient. But both work pretty well, especially in lower gravity or very pale beers.

DAP I reserve only for wine and mead making as part of the SNA (with Fermaid K or O) yielding total YAN required per yeast strain and sugar break.

Biotin Powder is an old school method to correct for low aeration and oxygenation... no need for it if you do at least a little bit of work on the cold side and aerate reasonably through shaking. It doesn't "remove" undesirables, rather provides sterols and other fatty acids necessary for yeast to quickly prepare for anaerobic fermentation, so prevents some possible off flavors from developing. Again - more applicable to cider or mead ferments. Never used it, but it apparently can have dramatic (negative) impact on fermentation character in a beer if used inappropriately.




Posted 34 days ago.

ingoogni
nl
314 Posts


Generaly I only use nutrients in the starter, the amount as I would use in the whole wort. DAP+Servomyces or the WY nutrient. Sugar should be the growth limiting component in a starter.

Very big beers also get a little Zn or Servomyces in the wort.




Posted 34 days ago.
Edited 34 days ago by ingoogni

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