Brewing yeast

Degsy

I'm making elderflower champagne and it hasnt been fermenting too well.
is there anywhere that sells beer-makers yeast?I've tried the Irish yeast Company and the Yeast factory in finglas,nobody seems to sell it.
is there any truth that some polish shops sell the stuff?

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You want me to move this to Beer/Wine/Spirits?

Degsy

Des wrote: »

You want me to move this to Beer/Wine/Spirits?

Please..although i'se in Dublin

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Degsy wrote: »

Please..although i'se in Dublin

I'll hoosh it over, there are some very good lads in there when it comes to home brewing.

Also, there's a big sticky thread at the top. Might get some info if you give that a gander.

BogWog

Theres a shop in Dun Laoighre that sells brewers yeast. Its a ****hole of a shop though no brewing supplies at all and its the only brewing shop I could find in the whole city. Its just up the road from the dart station in Dun Laoighre on that road with the hardware shops and pet shops. Its more like a health food shop than a brewing shop. Although they don't have fermenting vessels or any other brewing equipment they have brewers yeast. I know that much.

oblivious

The http://thehomebrewcompany.ie/ deliver laos some tine will post small itens

or

http://www.grapengraindublin.com/ deliver with in the Dublin area

Also the The Health Stores some time sell yeast and other brewing equipment

BogWog

oblivious wrote: »

The http://thehomebrewcompany.ie/ deliver laos some tine will post small itens

or

http://www.grapengraindublin.com/ deliver with in the Dublin area

Also the The Health Stores some time sell yeast and other brewing equipment

Its a pity that grape n grain company doesn't have a shop that you can walk into.

Degsy

oblivious wrote: »

http://www.grapengraindublin.com/ deliver with in the Dublin area

Also the The Health Stores some time sell yeast and other brewing equipment

grapengrain want 5 euro to deliver a tiny sachet of yeast..no way jose!
Does anybody know a healthfood shop that sells yeast?

BeerNut

Degsy wrote: »

grapengrain want 5 euro to deliver a tiny sachet of yeast..no way jose!

Give TheHomeBrewCompany a call -- they might stick one in the post for you.

guildofevil

What do you mean it hasn't been fermenting too well? Is it sluggish? Not fermenting out? Not clearing?

What yeast have you been using up to now?

What ingredients did you use in the brew?

If it's just sugar water and elderflower, you might need to add some yeast nutrient, in order to get a good healthy fermentation. Yeast cannot live on sugar alone.

Degsy

guildofevil wrote: »

What do you mean it hasn't been fermenting too well? Is it sluggish? Not fermenting out? Not clearing?

What yeast have you been using up to now?

What ingredients did you use in the brew?

If it's just sugar water and elderflower, you might need to add some yeast nutrient, in order to get a good healthy fermentation. Yeast cannot live on sugar alone.

It hasnt shown any signs of fermenting at all.
The idea supposedly is that the weak yeasts in the flowers negate teh need to add yeast,so far it doesnt seem to be working and i reckon i'll need to add yeast before it goes rotten.
i'm using sugar,lemonjuice and rind,white wine vinegar and elderflowers.

guildofevil

Using wild yeast from flowers or fruit can be hit and miss, to say the least. You might get a fermentation, you might not, but even if you do, you can't be sure what kind of flavours the yeast is going to produce. Some wild yeasts can produce some really funky flavours.

Another problem is that you might get a different micro-organism in your must and some of those can result in very unpleasant flavours. Your best bet is to add plenty beer or wine yeast, so that their numbers out compete anything else that might be in there.

What process did you use to produce the must? Did you boil the flowers? Steep them cold?

I can't say I have seen white wine vinegar used before. I suppose it would add acidity and a certain complexity, but it still seems a little odd.

Degsy

guildofevil wrote: »

Using wild yeast from flowers or fruit can be hit and miss, to say the least. You might get a fermentation, you might not, but even if you do, you can't be sure what kind of flavours the yeast is going to produce. Some wild yeasts can produce some really funky flavours.

Another problem is that you might get a different micro-organism in your must and some of those can result in very unpleasant flavours. Your best bet is to add plenty beer or wine yeast, so that their numbers out compete anything else that might be in there.

What process did you use to produce the must? Did you boil the flowers? Steep them cold?

I can't say I have seen white wine vinegar used before. I suppose it would add acidity and a certain complexity, but it still seems a little odd.

I steeped them cold but i digress,the whole point of my prescence here is that i badly need some yeast to get the process going

azzeretti

Where abouts are you?

Degsy

azzeretti wrote: »

Where abouts are you?

Finglas but i can travel!!

Mantel

Country Cellar is the place in Dun Laoighre, they had wine yeast last time I checked. Worth giving them a call if your desperate.

MoominPapa

Natures way (something to do with Holland & Barrett - Irish partners?) have in on their site

Brewer's Yeast Powder

(Debittered) with RNA & DNA Holland & Barrett Brewer's Yeast powder is a special type of primary yeast providing RNA and DNA. This selected grade of Brewer's Yeast yields a richer concentration of essential nutrients, blends well and dissolves quickly and evenly. Goes fine with juice, soups and beverages. SUITABLE FOR VEGETARIANS AND VEGANS.

Don't know if its suitable. Id be interested in giving this ago as Eldars are in full flower all around my area at the moment. Lack of yeast is the only thing stopping me

Degsy

MoominPapa wrote: »

Natures way (something to do with Holland & Barrett - Irish partners?) have in on their site


Don't know if its suitable. Id be interested in giving this ago as Eldars are in full flower all around my area at the moment. Lack of yeast is the only thing stopping me

I'm pretty sure its not suitable at all,you need beer yeast.
Anyways,i rang the grape an grain place and they're sending me out som eyeast for 4 euro delivered,also a kindly boardsie has agreed to sell me some later on which might just save my brew.
I must say that it smells pretty potent already for something that hasnt fermented properly.
go for it i tell you!!

MoominPapa

Degsy wrote: »

I'm pretty sure its not suitable at all,you need beer yeast.

Brewers yeast/beer yeast - same thing. No?

oblivious

MoominPapa wrote: »

Brewers yeast/beer yeast - same thing. No?

As in they are both yeast but one is selected for flavor profile and the other largely to produce lots of CO2 to rise bread

MoominPapa

oblivious wrote: »

As in they are both yeast but one is selected for flavor profile and the other largely to produce lots of CO2 to rise bread

Fair enough. What would likely happen if brewers yeast was used in this case?

oblivious

MoominPapa wrote: »

Fair enough. What would likely happen if brewers yeast was used in this case?

It would probably make a better beverage as bead yeast can have some phenols that may not be wanted

BeerNut

oblivious wrote: »

the other largely to produce lots of CO2 to rise bread

That's baker's yeast you're thinking of.

Beer yeasts come in different strains with different flavour effects. Using a generic "brewer's yeast" intended as a dietary supplement could produce anything, flavourwise, or may produce nothing as it's not likely to have been packed in a way that preserves the maximum number of viable cells for fermentation.

MoominPapa

oblivious wrote: »

It would probably make a better beverage as bead yeast can have some phenols that may not be wanted

I think you misread my post. Is there a difference between brewers yeast and beer yeast?

oblivious

MoominPapa wrote: »

I think you misread my post. Is there a difference between brewers yeast and beer yeast?

Sorry my bad, both would be yeast use for fermenting beer, so no. But there a lot of different types of beer yeast depending on what beer is been produced.

MoominPapa

oblivious wrote: »

Sorry my bad, both would be yeast use for fermenting beer, so no. But there a lot of different types of beer yeast depending on what beer is been produced.

Cheers, I was starting to get a little confused:D

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Just resurrecting this thread as I had some of Degsy's elderflower drink tonight.

It was quite potent, and I'd say somewhere around the 8% mark.

Was very nice, and would be best described as a "summer drink", quite refreshing after a night on Smithwicks.

Very nice indeed, and I also got my hands on some of Degsy's other home-produce. Some home made blackcurrant ice-cream and some fresh gooseberries.