Bread yeast strain/brand

CreamyGoodness · 07-21-2011, 03:36 PM

Hi all, I've been making some 1-gal batches of a JAOesk mead, two of which I have already consumed. Having a pound of Di-go brand bread yeast rather than fleischmann's, I used that (sometimes too much thereof, silly mistake). I guess I'm just wondering if anyone is familiar with this European yeast brand, and if it behaves much differently from Fleischmann's. If no one has 2 cents then hello anyway, hope to spend a lot of time with you good folks in the future.

James

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I'm Quitting smoking, and I think its going pretty well, however spedoinkal flarny qualoo runpazoid.

**fatbloke** · 07-22-2011, 10:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CreamyGoodness

Hi all, I've been making some 1-gal batches of a JAOesk mead, two of which I have already consumed. Having a pound of Di-go brand bread yeast rather than fleischmann's, I used that (sometimes too much thereof, silly mistake). I guess I'm just wondering if anyone is familiar with this European yeast brand, and if it behaves much differently from Fleischmann's. If no one has 2 cents then hello anyway, hope to spend a lot of time with you good folks in the future.

You might have to be a little more specific about the "European" thing and narrow it down to a country.

I've certainly never heard of it here and Fleischmann's isn't available either, but I manage to make very acceptable/agreeable versions with the local UK brands of bread yeast (Hovis, Allinsons and even supermarket own brand)......

regards

fatbloke

gratus fermentatio · 07-25-2011, 12:01 PM

Why are you using bread yeast?

CreamyGoodness · 07-25-2011, 07:23 PM

After having read many many of your posts before joining, I have to say I am feeling a bit honored to have you respond bloke. I get the feeling that the fat part is overstated.

Anyway, I did a little digging and found the following link for it: http://parthenonfoods.com/instant-yeast-digo-kvasac-small-pack-p-24.html

Seems as if it is a product of Croatia. I chose this particular one because I already had a pound of it in a jar that I had been using for pizza crust making, and thought it couldnt possibly be too much different from Fleichmanns. Also, part of why I am brewing in the first place is I wanted to prove that I could buy, make, or reproduce almost any foodstuff either "modern" or historic with goods within 10 blocks of my apartment in Queens and that I could do so in a relatively small kitchen (a long running infatuation of mine), which is why I also have crocks of homemade pickles and saurkraut going.

**fatbloke** · 07-25-2011, 10:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CreamyGoodness

After having read many many of your posts before joining, I have to say I am feeling a bit honored to have you respond bloke. I get the feeling that the fat part is overstated.

Anyway, I did a little digging and found the following link for it: http://parthenonfoods.com/instant-yeast-digo-kvasac-small-pack-p-24.html

Seems as if it is a product of Croatia. I chose this particular one because I already had a pound of it in a jar that I had been using for pizza crust making, and thought it couldnt possibly be too much different from Fleichmanns. Also, part of why I am brewing in the first place is I wanted to prove that I could buy, make, or reproduce almost any foodstuff either "modern" or historic with goods within 10 blocks of my apartment in Queens and that I could do so in a relatively small kitchen (a long running infatuation of mine), which is why I also have crocks of homemade pickles and saurkraut going.

Well I don't see why it can't be used, but I'd suggest that you followed the JAO recipe, because you can usually get all the ingredients in the local grocery store.

I mean, when I make a batch of JAO, I have to sub the yeast for whatever is available in the local market, plus I just use cheapo supermarket honey. Oh and being in the UK, I automatically make it to 1 imperial gallon i.e. 4.55 litres and it seems to come out fine.

Don't listen to the moaning f*****s who go on about "orange pith bitterness". It's probably there to balance the sweetness - which is a result of using a bread yeast (and no, it doesn't make a good dry mead, if you used wine yeast instead).

Just get a gallon jug and follow the recipe "to the letter".

Here's the recipe, this is the copy from Gotmeads "New Bee" Guide........

Quote:

Joe’s Ancient Orange and Spice Mead

A little caveat before we continue. This recipe flies in the face of just about all standard brewing methods used to make consistent and good Meads. It was created by Joe Mattioli to make a fast and tasty drink out of ingredients found in most kitchens. It is therefore perfect for the beginner, which has resulted in it being perhaps the most popular Mead recipe available on the internet. As Joe himself says “It is so simple to make and you can make it without much equipment and with a multitude of variations. This could be a first Mead for the novice as it is almost foolproof. It is a bit unorthodox but it has never failed me or the friends I have shared it with. (snip)...it will be sweet, complex and tasty.” Follow the instructions exactly as provided and you cannot go wrong. If you want to make larger batches, just scale up the recipe keeping all ingredients in the same proportion.

1 gallon batch

3 1/2 lbs Clover or your choice honey or blend (will finish sweet)
1 Large orange (later cut in eights or smaller, rind and all)
1 small handful of raisins (25 if you count but more or less ok)
1 stick of cinnamon
1 whole clove ( or 2 if you like - these are potent critters)
optional - a pinch of nutmeg and allspice (very small )
1 teaspoon of Fleishmann’s bread yeast ( now don't get holy on me--- after all this is an ancient mead and that's all we had back then)
Balance water to one gallon

Process:

Use a clean 1 gallon carboy

Dissolve honey in some warm water and put in carboy

Wash orange well to remove any pesticides and slice in eights --add orange (you can push em through opening big boy -- rinds included -- its ok for this mead -- take my word for it -- ignore the experts)

Put in raisins, clove, cinnamon stick, any optional ingredients and fill to 3 inches from the top with cold water. ( need room for some foam -- you can top off with more water after the first few days frenzy)

Shake the heck out of the jug with top on, of course. This is your sophisticated aeration process.

When at room temperature in your kitchen, put in 1 teaspoon of bread yeast. ( No you don't have to rehydrate it first-- the ancients didn't even have that word in their vocabulary-- just put it in and give it a gentle swirl or not)(The yeast can fight for their own territory)

Install water airlock. Put in dark place. It will start working immediately or in an hour. (Don't use grandma's bread yeast she bought years before she passed away in the 90's - wait 3 hours before you panic or call me) After major foaming stops in a few days add some water and then keep your hands off of it. (Don't shake it! Don't mess with them yeastees! Let them alone except its okay to open your cabinet to smell every once in a while.

Racking --- Don't you dare
additional feeding --- NO NO
More stirring or shaking -- Your not listening, don't touch

After 2 months and maybe a few days it will slow down to a stop and clear all by itself. (How about that, you are not so important after all) Then you can put a hose in with a small cloth filter on the end into the clear part and siphon off the golden nectar. If you wait long enough even the oranges will sink to the bottom but I never waited that long. If it is clear it is ready. You don't need a cold basement. It does better in a kitchen in the dark. (Like in a cabinet), likes a little heat (70-80). If it didn't work out... you screwed up and didn't read my instructions (or used grandma's bread yeast she bought years before she passed away) . If it didn't work out then take up another hobby. Mead is not for you. It is too complicated.
If you were successful, which I am 99% certain you will be, then enjoy your mead. When you get ready to make different mead you will probably have to unlearn some of these practices I have taught you, but hey--- This recipe and procedure works with these ingredients so don't knock it. It was your first mead. It was my tenth. Sometimes, even the experts can forget all they know and make good ancient mead.

And there you have it.

There you go... Some people have found it drinkable as soon as it's clear, I've yet to experience it like that. If you find you don't like it young, then just make it, then rack it off the fruit carefully (as little sediment as possible) and bottle it. Then age it for a minimum of 6 months (make enough of it and you can just try the first bottle after the 6 months, another at 12 months etc etc....

Dunno if that's any use or not.....

regards

fatbloke