How many packets of S-05 should I pitch?

[Beavdowg]

I'm brewing up a 1.066 IPA and using S-05. I'll be fermenting in the 64-66 range. Should I use 2 packets of yeast or would 1 be fine? I plan on rehydrating it either way.

thanks

 

[mmb]

One is fine. It might be a *slight* under pitch but it's harder to store 70% of the pack that you needed to open to hit exact pitching rates. My IPA is 1.070 and I only pitch one pack of US-05. Ferments out fine.

For future reference, http://www.mrmalty.com/calc/calc.html

 

[greenbirds]

If you went through Mr Malty's Pitching Rate Calculator, it would be somewhere between 1 and 2. If you use that calculator, you also take into account the production date. For S-05 I believe they state the expiration date is 24 months from date of production. So if the date is sometime in 2010, you have older yeast, and less viability.

 

[Beavdowg]

thanks guys!

 

[bdnoona]

I agree with mmb. S-05 is a beast and will have no prob fermenting out fully. Any off flavors that you might get from underpitch would probably be hidden by all the hops in an IPA anyway.

 

[Beavdowg]

Well, what would be the harm in pitching 2 packets? That way we know we'd have it covered. Are there any harmful results from pitching a little too much yeast?

 

[hamiltont]

Well, what would be the harm in pitching 2 packets? That way we know we'd have it covered. Are there any harmful results from pitching a little too much yeast?

Only reason I can think of is wasting a packet of yeast. One is fine for this brew.

 

[Mongo64]

Assuming we are talking about a 5 gallon batch, I would use one packet. I did an almost exact same brew a couple weeks ago with one S-05 packet I had in the fridge for 6 months, it fermented perfectly.

 

[FlyGuy]

1 pack rehydrated, or 2 packs pitched dry.

 

[Beavdowg]

Great, 1 packet it is then. Rehydrated!

Thanks guys!