StillSmart

Has anyone tried staggered nutrient additions ("SNA") in a wash? I started doing this for meads and it worked nicely. Tonight, I said why not for a wash.

I have prepared a simple sugar wash weighing in at 62 L and 1.070 SG. I plan on aerating and adding a portion of nutrients over three days. For this wash, I will be adding 3 tablespoons of DAP over 3 days and aerating to oxygenate in part and to drive off CO2 which is somewhat toxic to yeast. I am curious if SNA helps to limit off flavors.

The things we do to make the yeast happy.

For 62 L:

11.4 .... kg sugar
9 ......... crushed multivitamin tablets (simmered in hot water to release nutrients)
1/2 t ... epsom salt
3 T ...... DAP (SNA of 1 T per day over three days with aeration)
150 g .. bakers yeast pitched at 35C/95F
3 t ....... ascorbic acid (12/30 edit)
50 g .... boiled yeast (12/30 edit)

Note: maintain 26C/78F throughout fermentation to achieve .990 SG within 5 days/120 hours (12/30 edit)


I will post a follow up.

That's what I call a Good Idea!

Watching this one closely

AM

Doesn't oxygenation encourage yeast reproduction rather than ethanol production? Oxygenating after the start of fermentation might not be what you want. I have added more DAP to ferments that slowed down, but nothing as planned as you are suggesting. Please keep us informed.

Chuck

When I was making a blackberry mead some nine months ago, I read about some methods from Kris England and Curt Strong. They advised the SNA method as way to avoid over-stressing the yeast, reduce off flavors and to reduce aging time. The mead tastes great.

Yeast need oxygen to make alcohol as a by-product and oxygen can be introduced up until 50% of the sugars are consumed without fear of oxidation. Vigorous stirring drives off CO2 which can negatively affect the yeast. I will check the SG each day because it is possible that the last dosing day may just require a stir without aeration.

For meads, the SNA starts at pitching and then on an every other day schedule roughly tracking each 25% block of sugars consumed by the yeast. This schedule is driven by the high OG in excess of 1.100 SG. For the wash, I frontloaded the vitamins. For a mead, I would have also dosed Fermaid K which I did not add to the wash.

For a wash between 1.070 and 1.080, I am presuming that the SNA schedule is accelerated. I am hoping for a fast yet very clean ferment. There is nothing novel about the recipe; however, the SNA may prove its usefulness.


Edit:

It's best to aerate or stir, as applicable, to drive off CO2 first before adding DAP to avoid the volcano. I have a large plastic conical fermenter; so, it's not so much of a concern. However, it would be in a small bucket or carboy.

I have dosed the second DAP addition and 25% of the sugar has been consumed already within 24 hours. I use a cordless drill to power my mix-stir tool which is easy on me to provide a vigorous aeration or stir.

Edit:

After exactly 24 hours, 35% of the sugar has been consumed.

Edit:

After 48 hours, 55% of the sugar has been consumed. I added 50 g of cooled boiled yeast as yeast food. Also, the temp has dropped below optimal range for the ferment. The conical is too big for a heat belt. So, an aquarium heater seems in order.

Step feeding works and some distillers swear by it. I just tent to go light on the nutrients at the beginning and settle for it taking longer (cause I'm lazy)

This is an extract from Mason Jar Dixons MUM wash.

"Wash No.1 was the original recipe of:
7 Lbs of White Sugar
1- 6 oz can of Tomato Paste
5 teaspoons of Miracle Grow All Purpose Plant Food (3 at the
beginning, then another after 36 hours and the 5th 24 hrs after that)
2 packets of Hodgdon mills Bread Yeast ( I only used 1 for each wash
this go around)
Water to make a total volume of 4 gallons US. 1.080 SG

Wash No.2 (MUM Hybrid) was the same as the Original but with the
following added.
2 Wal Mart (Equate) Women’s Multi vitamins ground to Powder.
Both added at the beginning just before pitching Yeast.
4 teaspoons of Epsom Salts. 2 added at the beginning of ferment and
then 1 after 36 hours and then another 24 hours after that."

4 teaspoons of Epsom Salts



AM

I added an aquarium heater and the yeasties are happy again at 26C as opposed to 22C. At 96 hours, the ferment is 80% complete. Had the ferment been at the correct temp all along, the ferment would have been much closer to finish. Oh well.

I tried the wash recipe again. This time I added 3 t of ascorbic acid to neutralize any chloramine in the water. It may have also boosted the acidity of the otherwise hard water. And, of course, the aquarium heater was set for 26 C from the get go.

The good news is that wash measures .990 after 5 days or 120 hours. This is the fastest non-turbo result for me. Good odors are wafting from the fermenter. Doing SNA worked great as I had hoped.

Interesting result, I must give that a try when I can get brewing again in the new year.

AM