Which nutrient?

[scooterism]

This will my first starter and I need a nutrient, but I'm not sure which one to go for.

This is what my LHBS have on offer.

Any help is greatly appreciated.

Cheers

 

[Lyrebird_Cycles]

I'm not sure that you need a nitrogen supplement but if you are going to use one go with the Fermaid O.

The price in the linky seems exorbitant: a cheaper alternative is "Fermoplus DAP free" from AEB (not sure if it's available in small quanitites).

My recommendation is based on a protocol I developed for wine but it is applicable to beer: wine is a much harsher environment for yeast. The idea is that the initial nutrient addition should have all available nitrogen as amino acids eg no DAP. Any further supplementation can be straight DAP.


Explanation for those interested in yeast nitrogen metabolism; can be skipped with no penalty:

Yeast take up nitrogen via specialised transporter enzymes in the cell wall. The ammonia transferase is constitutive, it is always present and active and it suppresses the expression of the genes for the amino acid transferases.

This means that if you add ammonia, the yeast will take it up in preference to amino acids and make new yeast cells which will not have the enzymes required to take up amino acids. Since the nitrogen in wort is present mainly as amino acids, once the ammonia is exhausted the yeast will have to make the enzymes to take up the amino acids to keep growing.

If the nitrogen supplement has amino acids as the only nitrogen source, the yeast will express the appropriate enzymes and the new cells will be able to take up the wort amino acids as soon as they are pitched.

The other side of the argument is pure economics: it is far cheaper to buy a DAP free nutrient and DAP separately: the nutrients with "minerals" (code for DAP) are a very expensive way of buying DAP.

 

[scooterism]

I just put an order in for Fermaid O inbetween your post edits..

I have been led to believe when using liquid yeasts, you need a nutrient (when making a starter) unless the pack has nutrient already contained.

 

[manticle]

Nutrient is good. Should contain trace elements like zinc - malt wort is deficient and yeast like a teeny, tiny amount.

 

[manticle]

The links look like wine specific nutrients. This is for beer?

 

[timmi9191]

This is beer brewing nutrient http://www.ibrew.com.au/products/servomyces-yeast-nutrient-50gm-and-500gm-bricks

Used it in high gravity beers many times. Gets my thumbs up.

But having said that - for a single batch, average gravity brew any nutrient from a reputable manufacture will suffice in my opinion. We are talking milli, micro and sometimes nano gram differences in what you're adding. So add some nutrient full stop. There are so many other factors in the process that will make a much more significant difference than a microgram of zinc...

 

[peteru]

I bought some nutrient not so long ago. The listed ingredient is "inactive yeast". The obvious question is, why not just throw in a table spoon of old yeast from the last brew in the kettle and boil it for the last 15 minutes?

 

[manticle]

That helps. Commercially prepared, beer specific nutrients contain useful ingredients besides that.

Bit like making a salad with just one lettuce type and nothing else.

 

[Ducatiboy stu]

Bit like making a salad with just one lettuce type and nothing else.

And that was the start of an epic story

Are you planning to use barley malt in your start, which I assume you will.

Is there any reason why you want/need to use nutrient ?