Can anyone give me some more information on using yeast in homebrew?

Question

I started making some ale yesterday and added yeast nutrient thinking this would suffice (the yeast package in the homebrew pack was missing). As you can probably tell i'm a bit clueless about homebrewing. Can i simply add yeast to the mixture now to get it going or will i need to start a new batch? Also how much yeast should be added and would the same yeast used to make bread in a bread maker suffice if i was to rehydrate it sufficiently first?

Answer 1

You can add the yeast now. Bread yeast may work, but you can get beer yeast from Boots or Wilkinsons.

Answer 2

LOL dont invite me to your first tasteing paul, heres a site that gives you easy instructions and pics for homebrewing, hope the next lot is drinkable. good luck

http://uk.geocities.com/easyhomebrew/how...

Answer 3

I will assume that your wort was boiled strongly for at least 20 minutes. Most beers are boiled for an hour. I also assume that you cleaned and sanitized your equipment. Finally you put an airlock on the fermenter. These being done you are likely okay. But you should pitch as yeast ASAP.

If (and only IF) you have no more brewers yeast and are unable to get it in the next couple of hours, then use the bread yeast. It is produce an inferior beer and likely leave it cloudy. The alcohol will be low also. But later (today) you can pitch a brewers yeast and hope for the best.

Usually 1 or 2 packets will be enough yeast.

I use liquid yeast cultures of about 1-2 liters.

Answer 4

Yeast nutrient is not needed for beer. It is used when you make wines. meads, ciders, and such. It won't hurt, though. There's no need to start a new batch. If you value your ale, do NOT use bread yeast. That produces a lot of carbon dioxide and little alcohol. Bread yeast also gives an "off" taste. Get an ale yeast. A packet of dry yeast will do for now, as you are in a hurry. In the future, consider the WYeast smack packs or the White Labs tubes. If you think that your wort might have been contaminated, you might consider raising it to a boil for half an hour, then cooling it before you pitch your yeast.

Answer 5

The longer you wait to add the yeast, the more problems can occur. (funky odors and flavors will result)

You MUST use a proper Ale yeast for your beer. Bread yeast will ruin it. Rush immediately to your brew supply shop and get the yeast into the wort mach-schnell!!!!

Answer 6

I have never used nor hase I heard of good results in a beer that used bakers yeast. But if that is all you got it may be better than dumping your wort.

Try to get a proper brewers yeast soon.

Pitching rates.

http://www.mrmalty.com/pitching.php

Answer 7

i make my own wine and i use plain bread yeast

so you should be fine adding a package of bread yeast (2 1/2 tsp) to your ale