Types of Yeast That Will Work ?

runforthehills · Post by **runforthehills** » Mon Apr 18, 2005 8:32 pm

Guys.so far Ive used Alcotec turbo yeasts...I keep reading that the turbos arent necessarily needed, and that other types/brands can be used. I have seen some kind of Red Star yeast in bulk packs sold at Costco...sort of like a Sams Discount Club..Will this work if used with the tomato paste nutrient route ? What sort of quantity of yeast should you use for a 6-8kg sugar / 25 liter wash ??Thanks in advance..Ive finished my 4th batch now and each time I get a little better at what im doing....Perhaps a general lesson on yeasts, types and purposes is in order ?? Speed of fermentation is not crucial to me.....I would like near 20% if I can get it though...

Post by **Grayson_Stewart** » Mon Apr 18, 2005 9:05 pm

You won't get 20% with Red Star bakers yeast...cut down on the sugar to enough for 14% and pitch a healthy starter of bakers if thats what you want to use....otherwise...use a turbo.

runforthehills · Post by **runforthehills** » Tue Apr 19, 2005 11:35 am

Grayson- thanks for the reply. Other than the reduced 14% content, are there any other disadvantages to using a RedStar type bakers yeast ?
and how much should I cut sugar ? for a 25l wash should I cut sugar to about 4kg ? and use roughly the same quantity of yeast as I find in a turbo pack ??

I guess Im trying to decide if the $ savings from bulk RedStar will offset the convenience/extra cost of the turbos ? Since you are in the same part of the country, what are your thoughts Grayson....Im guessing our costs are about the same for everything....thanks in advance for your advice

Post by **Grayson_Stewart** » Tue Apr 19, 2005 6:20 pm

From Homedistiller.org

Bakers yeast will produce a maximum of around 14% alcohol, whereas the "turbos" can generate up to 20% alcohol. Obviously you'd use different amounts of sugar for either case. To estimate the sugar you need, multiply the wash % alcohol by the volume and by 17 grams, eg to make 20L at 13% you'd use 20 x 13 x 17 = 4400 g = 4.4 kg.

There is also a calculator on the homedistiller site that you can use to input the wash size, % alcohol desired and it will give you the amount of sugar required. Look under "preparing a wash" then "Sugar Based" then "Max Sugar Concentrations". According to this calculator you should use 5.95 kg table sugar for a 25 l wash to obtain 14%.

As for using the quantity of yeast found in a turbo pack, I'm not sure what that quantity is because a turbo pack has more than just yeast. A turbo pack is specially packaged with the required yeast nuetrients, acid blend, etc. to feed the aggressive yeast in a sugar wash environment.

If you wish to use cheaper yeast, you will have to add a nutrient to feed the yeast, and then there are the other agents that you could tweak the wash with such as acid blend, buffering, etc. This would all raise your cost, increase the chance of screwing up your wash, and just all around being a hassle.

If I ws going to do a sugar wash for high proof nuetral spirits, I'd look for the easiest fastest option....a turbo pack. If your going for something not as high in proof and want some flavor then you would want to go with a slower working, not as high alcohol tolerant yeast. And that decision would take you to all kinds of yeast to impart different flavors.

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed Apr 20, 2005 7:45 am

Thanks for taking time to reply. Your experience is appreciated. I think I will stick with the turbos...the additional cost for turbos is probably justified given the simplicity. Next time I place a mail order, I will order more to "get ahead".....

In your experience, do the other specialty packaged yeasts,,,ie VodkaStar that purport to make a "cleaner" wash/product in fact do so, say as compared to turbos ?? Even though my turbo washes are getting better, they still have a somewhat "sweet" taste to them......I am running very slowly...last run including a 2hr warmup was about 12 hours for a 25 l wash...and generated nearly 5 liters in the heart of the run...

Is the quest for flavorless, odorless distillate possible at the hobby level without carbon or other filtering ?? Im a little frustrated, by the sweetness and have not yet built a Z filter type contraption.....but maybe I need to......I just dont have a place to set something like that up and let it run.....With all the STUFF assoc with this hobby, Im beginning to think I should move to the country ??

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Wed Apr 20, 2005 7:47 pm

THM...Im cuttin about 200ml as throw out, and 1 liter as heads, before collecting the heart of my run...with 4-5 liters in the heart of the run...and about 1 liter of tails before I shut down. I separate into 1 liter batches and there is no distinct difference between liter 1,2,3 & 4 from heart of run.

How can I be running too fast when the whole process takes 12hours+?? Do some of you actually take longer than 12 hours ?? I cant imagine, but maybe at 12 hours Im not patient enough ??

I am collecting >500ml/hour and <750ml an hour....this seems to be well within the range of what others say is an acceptable "slow" run.....temp seems to stay rock steady on 74.8 til end, at which time I set aside the last 1 liter as tails....

I have tasted the heads, and they are noticably sweet....the heart of the run doesnt really taste sweet per se, nothing like the heads, just has a slight sweet taste/odor.....maybe my palate is too sensitive ? I mean there is a distinct difference between my heads (very sweet) and the heart (very lightly sweet)

LeftLaneCruiser · Post by **LeftLaneCruiser** » Thu Apr 21, 2005 3:55 am

Anonymous wrote:How can I be running too fast when the whole process takes 12hours+?? Do some of you actually take longer than 12 hours ?? I cant imagine, but maybe at 12 hours Im not patient enough ??

Be patient.
I've had runs that lasted from 11 in the morning till 01 at night. And then again four hours the next day to get the last bit and tails...

So 12 hours + runs are not exeptional at all...

I too wish the process could be speeded up, but then you have to give in at purity. It's the one or the other...

KJH