Half Packet of S-04

[BrewingChip]

Hello all! I am planning on brewing a one gallon batch of a chocolate milk stout and am going to only use half of my dry yeast packet. I know it is not the best yeast to use for a cider, but I am curious how big of a cider batch I could have with just a half packet of S-04. Would I be fine brewing a gallon? Could I get away with 2 gallons? Any help with this would be immensely appreciated!

 

[Maylar]

A teaspoon per gallon is usually enough.

 

[BrewingChip]

Would the cider take longer/shorter to ferment if its a 1ish gallon batch? And would it be a dry cider with the S-04? I'm still a newbie.. sorry for all the questions!

 

[Maylar]

I don't think there's any direct connection between batch size and ferment time, all else being equal. S-04 will usually quit off-dry at about 1.004 if you keep temps in the low 60's F. At 68°F it'll go below 1.000.

 

[BrewingChip]

Gotcha. Thanks!

 

[ExperimentalBrewer]

I regularly use 1/4 tsp per gallon with yeast nutrients. Works for me, I came up with this number from a yeast calculator once upon a time.

 

[MarkKF]

Hello all! I am planning on brewing a one gallon batch of a chocolate milk stout and am going to only use half of my dry yeast packet. I know it is not the best yeast to use for a cider, but I am curious how big of a cider batch I could have with just a half packet of S-04. Would I be fine brewing a gallon? Could I get away with 2 gallons? Any help with this would be immensely appreciated!

I think S-04 IS the PERFECT yeast for cider!

 

[Evan55]

Ive done 3 gallon batches with a half a packet of ale yeast and its turned out great.

1/2 tsp per gallon has also worked well for me

1/3 tsp per gallon is about the bare minimum (based on 1g per gallon) but Id stick with 1/2 tsp

 

[Amnesia180]

I'm glad to see someone else asking the same question as me... I've used half a packet of S-04 and half a packet of EC-118. I was nervous it might not start (yeast only added today), but I'm assuming it will have no problem.

I've secured the rest of the dry yeast in a tight airlocked bag and put in the fridge ready to use in about 3 or 4 weeks time.

The reason I didn't use the whole bag was because I've read it can alter the taste if too powerful.

I also did not "start" either of these yeasts, just poured the dry granules into the must/juice (can you confirm this was correct?)

 

[Johan]

Using gallon jugs, I use 1/2 tsp yeast for the primary and 1/4 tsp when racking. Good, champagne-like carbonation.

 

[Maylar]

I'm glad to see someone else asking the same question as me... I've used half a packet of S-04 and half a packet of EC-118. I was nervous it might not start (yeast only added today), but I'm assuming it will have no problem.

I've secured the rest of the dry yeast in a tight airlocked bag and put in the fridge ready to use in about 3 or 4 weeks time.

The reason I didn't use the whole bag was because I've read it can alter the taste if too powerful.

I also did not "start" either of these yeasts, just poured the dry granules into the must/juice (can you confirm this was correct?)

I typically rehydrate dry yeast per package instructions for anything over one gallon, but for a small batch sprinkling into the must seems to work fine. Just make sure the yeast and juice are at the same temperature.

I hope you didn't mix yeasts in the same batch, they don't play well together. EC-1118 is a killer strain and S-04 is susceptible to that.

 

[Amnesia180]

I typically rehydrate dry yeast per package instructions for anything over one gallon, but for a small batch sprinkling into the must seems to work fine. Just make sure the yeast and juice are at the same temperature.

I hope you didn't mix yeasts in the same batch, they don't play well together. EC-1118 is a killer strain and S-04 is susceptible to that.

No, I didn't mix the yeasts. They are in separate 1 Gallon batches.