Homebrewing. What is a very good way to have a strong fermentation?

Question

Homebrewing. What is a very good way to have a strong fermentation?

Answer 1

I have also had issues with the liquid cultures not fermenting well. I have overcome this with starter cultures that have all the elements BerMon talked about.

I have also used dry yeast with mixed results. Dry yeast had for a long time a bad reputation for being contaminated or not viable. But since I have not used it or paid much attention for the past couple of years my opinion is lacking.

That's enough info above to serve you well.

Good luck.

***You can always brew the day of racking of the yeast bed and send your cold break wort to the yeast. This should give a nice ferment-it does for me.

Answer 2

you seem to be were i am at with this. i have heard the samr things before and the results are good and bad. i usedboth kinds of yeast and they worked about the same. I will try the oxygen when i can get the equipment. it always seems we need more and more stuff just to make it.

the last guy answer i have heard works real good. plus you can save money.

Answer 3

I use a small bottle of oxygen with a hose and a aquarium air stone in the wort for about 3  then add a half gallon yeast starter to it made with amber malt extract water and yeast in a sanitized water jug with an airlock. The onset of fermentation is so good that you need a blowoff hose

Answer 4

I agree with Beer Monster except that I believe dry yeasts are better for begining brewers.  Dry yeast is simple and less can go wrong.  I won't use liquid yeast without a starter (or smak pack) because I've purchased several dead or nearly dead liquid yeast vials/packs in the past.  Want a strong ferment?  Use two packs dry yeast or pitch on the leftover yeast from a previous batch.

Don

Answer 5

You need a good nutrient laden wort.

A viable yeast culture.

Oxygen

Proper temperature.

Starting with your wort you want a health blend of nutrients from your grain source. A proper conversion and extraction-sparge will get you this.

If using a malt extract you may want to add a bit of yeast nutrient. Get this from your shop.

Start at and maintain the temperature your yeast is meant to ferment at. To high you will produce esters and too low you get a poor attenuation.

The yeast should be  viable. This means it is healthy and ready for activity related to fermentation. Your shop has liquid cultures for you they are best.

You will need to aerate your wort after cold break. By using O2 source or just shaking the carboy very vigorously for a few minutes will ensure you have enough oxygen for the yeast to increase cell counts enough to make the vigorous fermentation you require. Your shop has other tools to aerate the wort as well.