D-47 yeast

[Chance9768]

Whats the highest Og that anyone has ever had D-47 start at without any problems. Play on putting 4.2 pounds of honey to a gallon...will I have to make a starter or will the D-47 work if I just hydrate and pitch? (never used D-47 in mead before).

Thanks ahead of time to anyone who can awnser my question.

 

[Brandon O]

just rehydrate and pitch. What you will want to do is start with like 2 pounds of honey and nutrient in the batch. Once the fermentation is going really well add the rest of the honey and a bit more nutrient along with some energizer.

Adding honey in while fermentation is going is very straight forward because honey is naturally sanitary. Just take off the airlock and pour it in.

 

[Matrix4b]

I have done, consistiantly, 20 pounds to a 5 gallon batch. I use 2, 1 oz packest. I Hydrate in a cup of room temp juice for 30-45 min prior to pitching, though overnight doesn't seem to hurt it if I put 3 teaspoons of sugar in the juice. I just use about 8-10 oz of juice. Works fine for my desert meads.

 

[The Blow Leprechaun]

I always hear it recommended not to make a starter with a dry yeast. I don't know if it hurts the yeast in any way, or if it's just silly considering making a starter would be more expensive than just buying additional packets of yeast.

Honey is sanitary for the most part. I'd consider the source of the honey before adding it directly without treatment. The sugar density and acidity of most honey prevent bacterial growth, but unprocessed honeys can still have bits and things actually in the honey. Once you mix the honey with water, it loses a lot of that density and acidity is again prone to infections, so if anything was alive in there, you'll be in trouble.

But I would only really consider this in the case of getting honey directly from a hive or something like that. 99% of honey will be fine.

 

[Brandon O]

I am also not sure why some people say not to make a starter with dry yeast.

 

[hightest]

I am also not sure why some people say not to make a starter with dry yeast.

I can't speak for others, but in my case I find starters to be unecessary.

My fermentation success rate is 100% using properly rehydrated (with Go-Ferm) dry yeast and SNAs. I use 1 packet for OGs <1.116, and 2 packets for OGs between 1.116 and 1.130.

 

[Chance9768]

1 packet of D-47 and a little nuterent in 1.2 gallon took of okay with an OG of 1.121. Took about 12 hours but it is going fine now. Going to use this in my honey nut mead.