My experiment with Turbo yeasts

[mrgt]

So I have been making, neutrals, rums and rye whiskies now for about 2 years. probably have a bout 20+ batches under my belt. I went to the local Beer and Wine store looking for some ingredients to make a neutral (typically use bird watchers) and after a lengthy discussion he convinced me to give this highly recommended turbo yeast a try. He told me he has converted a lot of non-believers. I told him I was very skeptical but would give it a whirl. The brand was Artisan Extreme 20 Turbo yeast from Brewhaus.

So they suggest 18 lbs of sugar per 23 liter wash but I cut it down to 14 lbs to end up with an approximate 1.11 sg starting point. when I ran it through my still I was definitely more sacrificial with the heads (12 liter (2.5 gallon) pot still ) of which I disposed initial 50 ml and set aside 450ml - 550ml of heads. I used temperature and and my nose to figure out when to start collecting. I also ran the finished product through a carbon snake but I do that wit hall my neutrals.

I have to honestly admit that I was very pleasantly surprised and numerous people could not decipher between my bird watchers and this one. I am on my third run of it and I am happy, Wondering if anyone else has tried it , and if not I can honestly say it makes a respectable neutral.

[Prairiepiss]

If you have to carbon filter it. Then I wouldn't consider it a good neutral base. Just my two nickles.

[mrgt]

I didn't have to, I chose to , I do it with my birdwatchers too. Bottom line multiple people who had both couldn't tell the difference.

[bellybuster]

Bottom line multiple people who had both couldn't tell the difference.

now try the same comparison with a non filtered non turbo

[woodshed]

Bottom line not a good point of reference.
In the documentary beer wars many people were asked what their favorite lite beer was then challenged to pick it out of a group of three tasters. All failed. Subtleties are very hard for the average drinker to pick out. Cool that you are experimenting. Too bad it's with turbo.

[mrgt]

All I am trying to say is this brand of turbo wash worked for me. I am not saying that everyone needs to convert, just saying that those out there that are willing to try new things should consider it as an option, I did and was pleased with the results.

[woodshed]

How does this turbo differ? Not trying to pick a turbo fight there have been plenty of those here.
Just curious how this one differs.

[Brendan]

Now the goal should be to not have people be able to tell the difference between yours and Grey Goose or Belvedere

[bellybuster]

Bottom line multiple people who had both couldn't tell the difference.

now try the same comparison with a non filtered non turbo

[homebrewer23]

Hell I'll give it a shot if I can find it. I started out years ago on turbo yeasts. These days its always just all grain batches with distillers yeast. I need to change it up a bit

[mrgt]

How does this turbo differ? Not trying to pick a turbo fight there have been plenty of those here.
Just curious how this one differs.

To be honest this is my first attempt at turbo yeast so I am not sure. I went to the local shop (older gentlemen) who has been in the business for many years. after a long discussion he just told me that he has taken a lot of veteran distillers who were skeptical like me and converted them over. He basically said it is a formula that the company has been tweaking for a long time to come up with a very clean , respectable product. The things that helped were I was quite sacrificial with the heads and I reduced the sugar from 18 to 14 lbs.

[rad14701]

He took you, hook, line, and sinker... Of course he'll feed you a bunch of BS, he's there to take your money no matter what it takes...

Is a car salesman really your friend...??? Is the guy at Radio Shack really your friend...??? Is the guy at the brew shop really your friend...??? NO...!!! They are all trying to part your wallet from as much money as they can make you comfortable parting with...

Read up on turbo yeast, and at least try some of the other brands, before offering your approval... How much experience do you really have with fermenting washes and distilling...??? You simply saying "It worked for me!" simply isn't enough to sway the HD community... And I'm quite skeptical that any yeast would create a decent high gravity wash and resulting spirits, turbo or otherwise...

Remember, in the title of this topic you did use the word "yeasts", as in more than one...

[mrgt]

He took you, hook, line, and sinker... Of course he'll feed you a bunch of BS, he's there to take your money no matter what it takes...

Is a car salesman really your friend...??? Is the guy at Radio Shack really your friend...??? Is the guy at the brew shop really your friend...??? NO...!!! They are all trying to part your wallet from as much money as they can make you comfortable parting with...

Read up on turbo yeast, and at least try some of the other brands, before offering your approval... How much experience do you really have with fermenting washes and distilling...??? You simply saying "It worked for me!" simply isn't enough to sway the HD community... And I'm quite skeptical that any yeast would create a decent high gravity wash and resulting spirits, turbo or otherwise...

Remember, in the title of this topic you did use the word "yeasts", as in more than one...

All I can say is wow... you have already determined this product is not good without even ever trying it...that's an amazing skill set you have. It is clear that lots of turbos suck but this one came from someone who been doing this for probably over 30 years, so yeah, I will take his opinion into account.

I done BOTH birdwatchers and this. Birdwatchers is in the tried and true recipes and arguably one the most used neutral washes . I don't need to try 10 other turbos, I just need to compare to this. But hey since your so smart , go live in your bubble and be a lemming. Quite frankly the majority of feedback from this forum seems like a bunch of cranky know-it-all. Those of you that are open minded give this turbo a try. I'm done.

[rad14701]

Go forth and prosper...!!!

You've obviously found the holy grail of turbo yeasts and we should all be in awe...!!!

Did you ever stop to consider the fact that many many members here have used turbo yeasts and have not had the greatest experiences, no matter what they have tried as far as amounts of yeast and sugar...??? Most here realize that simple recipes are cheaper and easier than turbo yeast but, hey, what do we know...!!! But there are a few members who do use them and think they are having success... You've stumbled into that bunch...

I haven't used turbo yeast because I don't have the need nor the desire to... I don't need to line someones pockets to make great spirits... I've managed for going on 40 years, on and off, and have made my fair share of mistakes in the past... These days I do everything I can to figure out what works and what doesn't without simply opening a magical packet... If that makes me a know-it-all, so be it... It's called experience...

I'll point out again the title of this topic "My experiment with Turbo yeasts"... How many different turbo yeasts and how many experiments and where is the supporting statistical data...??? It takes more than "Yep, I tried this and it works!"... And you wonder why people get skeptical...

[bearriver]

I went to the local Beer and Wine store looking for some ingredients to make a neutral (typically use bird watchers) and after a lengthy discussion he convinced me to give this highly recommended turbo yeast a try. He told me he has converted a lot of non-believers.

That's funny, I get my BW fixins' from the grocery store...

Humans have been breeding yeast like we have been breeding dogs. Been at it awhile.. The best dogs today come from long proven pedigrees that have stood tests over many generations. In my analogy here, you should buy a proven and remarkably bred canine companion and not some 175 lb mutt. The mutt is your turbo yeast.

Your use of carbon is a long nauseating discussion unto itself. I think you haven't a clue what your doing. You follow a recipe and it works, but you haven't the faintest inclination as to why it works. For example your regular use of carbon, only because marketing told you to do so.

Have you asked yourself what turbo means besides the vague marketing bullshit?

It's high abv tolerance yeast prepackaged with a butt load of chemical nutrients. Nothing more, nothing less. If you understood what that meant then you would know it is used to make fuel, not vodka, and why that is.

[Almanni]

I had very good results with Still Spirits brand turbo with running a neutral. I honestly can't taste the difference.

[LG11]

I got a little treat for you all after Christmas holidays, I am going to settle this once and for all.
I have been preparing different agar plates that are selective for yeast, the only difference between the plates is I have added various amounts of pure analytical grade anhydrous Ethanol (its anhydrous until its mixed at least), it goes from 5% to 20% although to be honest I know I have wasted all plates over 16%.
I have used 12 different yeast strains only 3 are non turbo yeasts.
Its a really simple set up, if yeast grows on a plate it proves that strain can produce or at least tolerate ethanol at that concentration.

[MDH]

I've been doing the same thing LG. I look for at least 6%...

[ShineRunnah]

Turbo yeast is good for sac runs, fuel, cutting shellac and not much else.

I tried some out of curiosity as I wanted to see the action in a 24hr ferment. I double distilled it through a pot and thumper and ended up using it to mix up some nice amber shellac. If I want something that vile, I'll save myself some propane and piss in a jug.

[shadylane]

Turbo yeast is excellent.
For fermenting an argument.

[firewater69]

Turbo yeast is excellent.
For fermenting an argument.

No it's not! (sorry shady,i couldn't resist)

[Boda Getta]

The experienced HD folks beside the point; the major distilleries, both in the US and Europe, spend millions looking for ways to increase their efficiencies but maintain the quality their customer base expect and demand. It's curious they haven't discovered your magic yeast.

BG

[LG11]

The experienced HD folks beside the point; the major distilleries, both in the US and Europe, spend millions looking for ways to increase their efficiencies but maintain the quality their customer base expect and demand. It's curious they haven't discovered your magic yeast.

BG

To be fair industry is in a difficult position and limited to what they can try, above all they have a brand that cost huge sums to create and protect. They have to keep close to the taste profile the brand is known for, look at coke and all the agro they had when they tweaked the recipe a little. Some do change yeasts and alter profiles, but its done very rarely and very very carefully. Often with a great deal of money spent to make sure they have a fall back, at work we have a commercial yeast bank to store yeast for clients. We store it in dried form and live form and it takes alot of work to keep the strain fully viable and genetically in tact, this is obviously reflected in what we are paid to do so. The security at work for the bank is like you would expect for a diamond vault!!! We have security people on site 24/7 and you need clearance to get near the building where its kept, its a strange feeling picking up a vial and knowing that you could bankrupt a large company simply by pissing in it
I love working with the yeast bank its one of those jobs thats kinda relaxing