Yikes, forgot yeast nutrient but am pitching good slurry. Did I mess up?

[luckybeagle]

Hi there,

I'm brewing my first batch of IPA following Josh Weikert's recipe and am using slurry from my recent Scotch Ale (WY1056, harvested early March). I've got the wort boiling right now with a target OG of 1.060. I just went into my fridge to grab the yeast nutrient and remembered that I used up the last of it on last week's batch! LHBS is closed now.

Since it's not a huge beer and since I'm pitching a good amount of slurry from a recent batch (about 9 oz once decanted), do you think I'm OK?

 

[FatDragon]

Should be fine. It might be good to do a little vitality starter by chilling some of the wort from your IPA and adding it to the yeast slurry to give it an early start.

 

[IslandLizard]

From what I understand, most minerals a yeast needs are already in the wort. A little (or more) trub that (unintentionally) transfers is actually good too.

I'm refusing to pay $2 for a 'magic' yeast nutrient pill.

So I usually add a tsp of a 1:1:1 mixture of DAP, Epsom Salt, and Urea for good measure, along with a few drops of a Zinc Sulphate solution to a 5.5 gallon batch. 1/4 tsp to 2 liters of yeast starter wort plus 2 drops of ZnSO4. Only the Zinc seems to be a necessary micro nutrient missing from normal wort and yeast cultures. Not sure about other ones, like Molybdenum.

There are always dead yeast cells in older starters and repitched slurries, so there's little need for adding yeast hulls to those, IMO. But I do add some to starters made directly from a fresh yeast pack.

 

[madscientist451]

I never use yeast nutrient in beer unless its going to finish above 8-9% alcohol. But I always try to use a large quantity of healthy yeast.

 

[RM-MN]

Your wort contains everything needed for the yeast except oxygen. Aerate it well.

Yeast nutrient is only needed for wine, cider, and mead which are lacking the nutrients.

 

[IslandLizard]

But I always try to use a large quantity of healthy yeast.

That ^
Use a yeast calculator to estimate cell count of repitched slurries and how many cells are needed for your wort.

Your wort contains everything needed for the yeast except oxygen. Aerate it well.

And that ^

 

[Oldskewl]

You will be fine. Especially on a lower OG beer. You may finish a couple points higher than you usually do though.

 

[IslandLizard]

You may finish a couple points higher than you usually do though.

Why would that be, due to not adding extra yeast nutrients?

 

[luckybeagle]

Thanks everyone! This all makes sense. I appreciate it. RDWHAHB is the general concensus. I'll take it.

 

[Oldskewl]

Why would that be, due to not adding extra yeast nutrients?

Not sure why. Just speaking from experience. I never used nutrient for the first 2 years of brewing. Once I started using it my beers would finish a couple points lower. When I forget to use it, I finish a couple points higher.

 

[IslandLizard]

Not sure why. Just speaking from experience. I never used nutrient for the first 2 years of brewing. Once I started using it my beers would finish a couple points lower. When I forget to use it, I finish a couple points higher.

That sounds worthy of some deeper testing. Do you use a yeast calculator to estimate cell counts to pitch? Starters? Oxygenation/aeration? What nutrient mix do you use?

 

[Oldskewl]

This is the nutrient I use.

https://labelpeelers.com/yeast-nutr...MInbf1hdO54QIVVlmGCh31UQdYEAQYASABEgLJUfD_BwE

I recall the first time I used it, I followed the directions of 1 tsp per gal and my FG was extremely low on a Tired Hands Hop Hands Clone. I now use 1/2 to 1 tsp per 5 gal now. I always use starters and I gauge my starter volume off of SG and age of yeast. I oxygenate my larger beers with pure O2 and use the hose held high method for lower gravity beers.

 

[Calder]

IN 25 years of brewing, never used nutrient, never found an issue that would indicate I needed to use it. The malt itself has plenty of nutrients. Also the dead yeast in the slurry will provide nutrients for the healthy yeast.

Not sure why. Just speaking from experience. I never used nutrient for the first 2 years of brewing. Once I started using it my beers would finish a couple points lower. When I forget to use it, I finish a couple points higher.

Interesting observation. I like to have my beers finish drier (lower FG) than most, and have not had any issue with making my lower FGs without using nutrient.