Alternatives to brewers yeast

by **Jimmy** » Sat Jul 05, 2008 8:53 pm

I was just wondering, what yeasts are people using other than the usual homebrew ones? I've been using Allinson Dried Active Yeast, which comes in a small orange tin and is available from supermarkets. About half a tin is good for a 25 litre wash, so that's about 50 pence worth. Anyone had good/bad experiences with anything else?

by **Phantom** » Sun Jul 20, 2008 12:06 am

Yes, Lalvin's EC-1118. It's a champagne yeast, so you do need to ensure the appropriate amount of nutrients (I have Gervins Minavit, Tronozymol and Lalvins Fermaid-K, the fermaid being tracked down via ebay from the States as it seems like rocking horse shit in the UK).
It will ferment to about 18%, and I get that mail order from one of the UK based home brew shops. The packets need to be re-hydrated (instructions on packet). The packs contain 5 grammes which is enough for about 5 gallons.
I have various other Lalvin wine yeasts as well, but I haven't tried them for sugar wash.
I've currently got 2 more cheap/reduced price cider kits (courtesy of Wilko's) to make up - and because I'm gonna "mod" them with extra sugar, acid and tannin, I'll be chucking an additional pack of yeast in (and probably a half teaspoon of nutrient) though I haven't decided whether it'll be Lalvins 71B, D47 or K1V, or even one of the couple of packets of Redstar yeasts I have (also from the US as no-one seems to sell them here).
p.s. Oh and the wine yeasts tend to be about a Â£1 a pack

by **Opus 27** » Wed Feb 24, 2010 3:56 am

I\'m currently running a very simple wash from John Stones Book (\"Making Gin & Vodka\")

using Allisons yeast. 40 Litres Water 8 Kilos Sugar and 125grms yeast. Fermented well initialy but quickly slowed down so put heat on and ran at 28-30 C. Now fermenting well. Yeast was Â£1-19p.
Opus 27

by **Opus 27** » Mon Mar 01, 2010 12:25 am

I forgot to mention I also added some Youngs Yeast Nutrient.

Having said that it's now been fermenting for 14 days it started at 1.060 SG and has only come down to to 1.030 SG in that time. No where near John Stones claim for 5 Days+.

Probably wont bother with that anymore as a wash.
Opus 27

by **Opus 27** » Mon Mar 01, 2010 10:29 pm

I\'ve just been browsing our forum looking at fermentation/yeast/washes etc. and was thinking it might be usefull to get different experiences of various yeasts into one thread.
Opus 27