Dry yeast packet says to sprinkle on wort..odd

[JONNYROTTEN]

I was about to rehydrate safale S 04 and it says to "sprinkle on wort". I thought that odd being is been said many times sprinkling on the wort without rehydrating kills 50% of the yeast.Now the manufacturer is saying to do just that?? I know many people don't but its understood you should.Whats the deal?? Have they changed there ways?

EDIT: There website say either way,I'll rehydrate to be on the safe side

 

[daksin]

Rehydrating is best practice for sure- the yeast manufacturer wants things to be as easy as possible so they say to just toss in dry. For most low-ish gravity beers you're fine, but you'll always get better results with properly rehydrated yeast. People are just lazy, that's all.

 

[FloppyKnockers]

It's all about preference. I use US-05/4 on the regular. I almost never re-hydrate. I say almost because I had a packet that was three months expired so it made me feel better to re-hydrate and feed before pitching. I bet it would've done just fine without.

 

[kh54s10]

I have always wondered about this also. The package often says to just sprinkle on the surface, but if you go to the website it often suggest rehydrating. I have seen videos where the techs recommend rehydrating. Also ones where the techs recommend starters when using liquid yeast even though the package says to direct pitch in 5 gallons.

Differing instructions in different places by the same company???

I almost always rehydrate or make starters. It is small insurance to make the beer the best it can be.

 

[Hoppy2bmerry]

If the directions say sprinkle it in, I have no problem with that, but as floppyknockers said if you want to make sure it is viable "proof" is like you're baking.

 

[ncsuwerewolf]

I used to rehydrate always. I guess i am still when i pitch a 1.040 beer and use the cake for the season.

 

[day_trippr]

The Fermentis pdfs on their strains always list hydration first...

Cheers!

 

[greengt]

I never rehydrate and I've yet to be dissapointed.

 

[enkamania]

I thought that odd being is been said many times sprinkling on the wort without rehydrating kills 50% of the yeast.

Wonder why that is the case?

 

[Qhrumphf]

Wonder why that is the case?

When cells are unhydrated they cannot regulate what passes through the cell membrane. Once they've been rehydrated they can. Hydrating dry yeast in wort as opposed to water overloads them with nutrients. Think of it like diabetic shock for the yeast. It'll kill a lot and stress the rest.

As far as why the package says you can pitch dry, good question. It'll still make beer if you do that. But you're lessening your chances and making your best beer possible. I'd guess they're just trying to make it simple for n00bs.

 

[aprichman]

When cells are unhydrated they cannot regulate what passes through the cell membrane. Once they've been rehydrated they can. Hydrating dry yeast in wort as opposed to water overloads them with nutrients. Think of it like diabetic shock for the yeast. It'll kill a lot and stress the rest.

As far as why the package says you can pitch dry, good question. It'll still make beer if you do that. But you're lessening your chances and making your best beer possible. I'd guess they're just trying to make it simple for n00bs.

Hydrating dry yeast is best practice but improper hydration can result in less viable yeast than direct pitching. If you're hydrating too cold or without enough water hardness, the hydration process can reduce viability by as much as 60%.

I recommend for newer brewers to not worry about hydration of the dry yeast. If you're brewing a high gravity ale just pitch 2 packets.

 

[k1ngl1ves]

To really throw a wrench in this discussion...



You can also rehydrate improperly and kill and/or damage more than 50% of the yeast.
(Edit: Damn. aprichman beat me to it. )


Yeast manufacturers are playing it safe when they say to just dump the contents into the wort. They cater to a wide spectrum of customers, from pros down to chromosome deficient beings. This is the world we live in. Why do you think steaming coffee cups are labeled "contents are hot"? Why is a box clearly marked "KNIVES" also labeled "Contains sharp objects"?


Darwinism is no longer in play anymore...

 

[Qhrumphf]

Hydrating dry yeast is best practice but improper hydration can result in less viable yeast than direct pitching. If you're hydrating too cold or without enough water hardness, the hydration process can reduce viability by as much as 60%.

I recommend for newer brewers to not worry about hydration of the dry yeast. If you're brewing a high gravity ale just pitch 2 packets.

True. Same way that if new brewers can't make a starter in a sanitary manner, just pitch additional liquid yeast packs.

 

[mongoose33]

I just "pitched" my dry S-04 on Sunday about 4pm. By 6am Monday that batch was going to town.

In fact, that's how every packet of S-04 has worked for me--sprinkle it on the wort, and away it goes.

 

[JONNYROTTEN]

Hydrating dry yeast is best practice but improper hydration can result in less viable yeast than direct pitching. If you're hydrating too cold or without enough water hardness, the hydration process can reduce viability by as much as 60%.

I recommend for newer brewers to not worry about hydration of the dry yeast. If you're brewing a high gravity ale just pitch 2 packets.

This was my concern.While I was working on it I was thinking to myself "Am I making things worse right now". I sprayed everything with starsan then rinsed with some of the hot water.I even took the Inkbird off the ferm chamber to measure temp and pitched at exactly 80 deg.Of course then I grabbed a spoon out of the drawer to stir and didn't spray it..Again I said to myself "welp,there go a billion yeast" Anyway that was 8PM and at 8AM I have action..Im not sure it was worth all the work as Ive pitch dry before with no issues.