Tomato paste alterative

[Richard7]

I have used tomato paste in my wash for a couple of years now as a nutrient for the yeast. I don't have any complaints about it, and I know it helps it go dry much faster than without.
There is no taste that carries over as far as I can tell. But last week I was getting a wash ready and was about to add the paste like always. As I was in the pantry I noticed a gallon jug of salsa that was still good but expired.
I decided to use salsa in place of the paste.
I normally make about a 25 gallon batch of wash and add around 6 oz of paste. Since the salsa was so plentiful I used about 1/2 a gallon. The yeast loved it.
This may sound weird but I am hoping for some of the flavor to carry over. I love spicy stuff.
I started this batch on 4/16 and checked it today 4/25 and it was dry as could be.
Looking forward to running it tomorrow and tasting the result.

[Boda Getta]

Your final product should be good with chips.

[googe]

Half gallon wow lol, how does the wash taste?. I used a pasta sauce once and the spices came through mildly, wasn't bad.

[rad14701]

Did you do any hydrometer tests...??? I'd be concerned if the salsa contained any amount of garlic as garlic kills yeast...

[T-Pee]

Did you do any hydrometer tests...??? I'd be concerned if the salsa contained any amount of garlic as garlic kills yeast...

Yeasties be related to vampires??

tp

[Dan P.]

Sounds revolting, but to each his own.
However if garlic is bad for yeast, so is salt. Salsa can be quite salty.

[just sayin]

Bummer about the garlic! I was ready to suggest adding some corn chips so you could offer your mates a glass of "chips and salsa" for Cinco de Mayo.

[Richard7]

The brand name was Pace and it had dehydrated garlic in it. Not sure how much. But the yeast loved the salsa. Not much of the flavor carried over but you can detect a hint of it in there.
I did check it with a hydrometer. 1.070 was my starting point and it was below 1.0 at the finish only 9 days later.
I skimmed the onions and peppers off the top and found that 2 out of 8 goats like it!
The wash was way stronger tasting than the final product. Imagine pepper onion and garlic wine.....Need I say more!

All in all I would call it a success. I had it on hand so it didn't cost me extra, I like the flavor (very mild hint) and it does go well with chips!

[T-Pee]

Who'd-a thought?

tp