Nature vs. Nurture?

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pava

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Ok . . . so indulge me here for a second. . .I have had a 'couple' of homebrews.

I was just breaking down some boxes (it is trash night) and realized that I was creating quite a ruckus in the general vicinity of where my yeasties were doing some very important work (10 gallons of Belgian Dark Strong and 5 gallons of Orange/Cascade Pale Ale no more than 4 nights in the primary). So it hit me . . . Damn I am not creating a very nice work atmosphere for these guys in which to do my bidding. Then the thought crossed my mind, I remember reading of folks who play music for their plants and studies that even suggest this has actually encouraged healthy growth in plant life.

So my question to the HBT forum on this rainy PA evening. . .has anyone ever played music or done anything otherwise out of the ordinary to 'set the mood' for those little yeastie beasties that perform the most important work of the entire brew process?

Looking forward to some great discussion . . .

--Pava
 
I like to do a little striptease for them and give my carboy a lap dance.
 
I polish my carboy every night with a baby cloth, and wrap it with my wife's $100 dollar Ralph Lauren fleece blanket. The yeast seems to be partial to luxury!
 
I force pot smoke into the carboy, I figure it gives everyone else munchies...


On a (slightly more)serious note, I do try to keep the area dark, so I guess that could be mood lighting. ;)
 
Shaun. . .why do I hear some very disturbing voice in my head screaming. . .'Put the f*&$ing lotion in the basket' (ala silence of the lambs). . .somehow I think that might be counterproductive to the cause :( .
 
Just next to it and talk gently to (not into) the airlock with little words of encouragement while sipping on Coirvoisier and listening to some Barry White softly playing in the background. Turn the lights down real low and just give your primary a safe and cozy hug.

After all that...go kiss your wife. She's gonna be a little jealous.
 
What exactly do you think your ruckus is going to do to the yeast? They don't have ears. Those music studies on plant growth are pretty much bogus - all have been unrepeatable, as far as I can recall. Nice if you like woo, but basically all the yeast care about is the temperature and having sugar to work on.
 
What exactly do you think your ruckus is going to do to the yeast? They don't have ears. Those music studies on plant growth are pretty much bogus - all have been unrepeatable, as far as I can recall. Nice if you like woo, but basically all the yeast care about is the temperature and having sugar to work on.

Buzz kill.
 
I don't know about soft music, but if you get some big pumpin' base songs with a large speaker right next to the fermenter the sound waves could help agitate your beer and the yeasties!

I've found that US-05 is partial to Baby Got Back :D
 
When I'm absent I leave my computer monitor on with lots of craft beer and home brew photos randomly showing.
The carboy must like them as I usually find foam all over my keyboard when I return.
 
Well, I must be doing it all wrong; I usually leave my carboy in a dark cold box with a tube jammed in it for a couple of weeks. I then move it to another dark cold box full of ice cold water while mumbling about how I'm going to drain it of all its fluids in the near future.

Oddly enough the yeast seems to actually get off on it.
 
I've been playing a lot of Blind Guardian and Demons & Wizards by my beer. I hope the power metal helps inspire the yeast.

I also play a lot of guitar to the yeast. Hopefully headbanging yeast make better beer.
 
Well, I must be doing it all wrong; I usually leave my carboy in a dark cold box with a tube jammed in it for a couple of weeks. I then move it to another dark cold box full of ice cold water while mumbling about how I'm going to drain it of all its fluids in the near future.

Oddly enough the yeast seems to actually get off on it.


Hmm you might be enjoying this hobbie too much.
 
I played just Wagner to one batch and just Satie to another batch. It wasn't a scientific experiment. One was a pale ale and the other was a dark mild, but I'll let you know how they turn out.
 
This evening I will read extracts from Milton's Paradise Lost to my fermentours.

I will let you know.
 
I play porn for em to get them in the mood to reproduce.

The trick is finding which type of porn to play for the strain of yeast your using. Some like bondage and s&m, others like girl girl, some like traditional and some like some freakish fetish stuff.
 
Then the thought crossed my mind, I remember reading of folks who play music for their plants and studies that even suggest this has actually encouraged healthy growth in plant life.

There is your first problem, these studies are not legitimate.
 
I play fast aggressive music (punk or metal) for my carboys a few times a week, for about 1.5 hrs each time. It's coincidental that my fermentation quarters are also the workout room and they only get their entertainment when I'm lifting. I like to think that the fast music convinces the yeast to get off their arses and have little microscopic mosh pits. :rockin:
 
I snuggle mine in a warm baby blanket, and tuck it in every night with it's favorite plushie. ThinkGeek :: Giant Plush Microbes :: Additional Images
bacteria-yeast.jpg

Beer Yeast Plushie
 
I play porn for em to get them in the mood to reproduce.

The trick is finding which type of porn to play for the strain of yeast your using. Some like bondage and s&m, others like girl girl, some like traditional and some like some freakish fetish stuff.


I think the freaky stuff only works for German styles.
 
So would soft core work for domestic strains? A little Cinemax after dark for 1056?
 
I read my last batch "the Giving Tree" and it got depressed and would never carbonate.

Try a Hustler next time. If they don't rock and roll with that, then you have some really depressed yeast or maybe they're just gay.
 

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