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FAQ-Distiller's Yeast

Question: Midwest Yeast Shipping Info:
Answer:

Over the summer months we ship yeast all over the country to varying climates and receive few problems reported. That being said the most common issues with shipping yeast is a loss in viability which translates into increased lag periods before fermentation begins....Click to Read full Answer

Question: What are my liquid yeast size options?
Answer:

Midwest Homebrewing Supplies has various yeast options for our homebrew kits. -1.75 oz. (000W) Wyeast Propagator packs are pure strains of liquid beer yeast in self contained foil packs. Upgrading to this yeast costs an additional $3.00. They require activation 24-48 hours before brewing. This is easily done by holding the yeast pack in your hand and hitting it with your other hand. This ruptures the yeast culture inside the pack. The pack will expand and will then be ready to be added to a yeast starter. Wait 24 hours after creating the yeast starter to add the slurry to the wort. -150 mls (approx. 6 oz) (000ACT) Wyeast Activator packs are pure yeast in a UV light protected tube. Upgrading to this yeast costs an additional $4.00. These Activators are ready to use right out of the refrigerator. Wyeast Activators (000ACT) are available for an additional $4.00. -White Labs Yeast vials (000WL) are ready to use right out of the refrigerator. No more waiting for incubation. White Lab vials (000WL) are available for an additional $5.00. Each vial is equivalent in cell count to a pint starter, or 75-150 billion cells, containing 8 times as much yeast as a small Wyeast pack....Click to Read full Answer

Question: I had my yeast shipped to my house, will it be ok?
Answer:

Over the summer months we ship yeast all over the country to varying climates, and more than 95% of these are shipped successfully. That being said the most common issues with shipping yeast is a loss in viability which translates into extended lag periods before activity is noted. It isn't a bad idea to have a dry yeast on hand just in case something does go wrong with your liquid yeast. It takes a lot to kill yeast, so it is unlikely the yeast is dead, but it may take more time than usual for the yeast to repair itself and then start fermenting. If in doubt, create a yeast starter....Click to Read full Answer

Question: What types of Yeast do you carry?
Answer:

With all the time and effort homebrewers put into their beer recipes sometimes the importance of yeast is overlooked. Yeast can effect the taste of beer more than malt, hops or specialty grains. There are two forms of yeast’s used in homebrewing. Dry yeast and Liquid yeast. Wyeast Laboratories and White Labs offer liquid yeast’s that are cultured strains of a specific yeast. These pure strains produce consistent results and are highly recommended for many styles of beer. The advantages of dried beer yeast are that it is simple to use, usually very active, foolproof, and are reliable after months of storage. The disadvantage of using dry yeasts are inconsistent results....Click to Read full Answer

Question: What is flocculation?
Answer:

Flocculation refers to the clumping of yeast cells at the end of fermentation. Strains are separated into three main degrees of flocculation- High, Medium, and Low. An example of a highly flocculent strain would be our English Ale yeast, which will settle at the bottom of the fermentation tank. An example of a low flocculant strain would be our Hefeweizen yeast....Click to Read full Answer

Question: What kind of yeast should I use?
Answer:

The first choice to make is whether you want to use dried or liquid yeast. (Please see FAQ entitled "What's the difference between dried and liquid yeast?") If you choose to use a liquid strain, you will be able to get much closer to the specific style of beer you are brewing. We have placed detailed descriptions of all of the yeast Midwest carries, and the styles that they are best suited for, here on our website....Click to Read full Answer

Question: The yeast feel warm, are they dead?
Answer:

Yeast are surprisingly tough and it takes quite spike in temperatures to really effectively kill them. You may experience a lag time longer than expected due to cellular damage, but likely everything will be fine as they are still able to propagate and spawn fresh and viable cells. Preparing a yeast starter is an excellent way to ensure yeast health and viability....Click to Read full Answer

Question: What options do I have to make my own liquor?
Answer:

When it comes to making liquor at home, Midwest offers two options. One is making a Classic Liquors Kit. The second is using a Liquor Quik essence. Let’s tell you the differences between the two. Liquor Quik essences can be the most basic way to make your own liquor at home. All you have to do is add a bottle of essence to a bottle of neutral spirit, like vodka, and some sugar. It is an instant result with very little effort. For those that want to make a liquor flavored cake without the liquor, Liquor Quik is very good for that as well. If you want to make your own base alcohol, we recommend using Super Yeast Xpress by Liquor Quik. This is a fast fermenting yeast that is capable of achieving 20-25% alcohol. Just follow the directions on the back of the package for how much sugar to use. For those that want to make the liquor from start to finish, try out a Classic Liquors kit. These kits come with almost everything you need to make 1 gallon of liquor at a time. You only need to provide table sugar, and water, to make these kits. The rest is right in the box. Because you are making, and clearing, the alcohol yourself, these kits take about 3 - 5 weeks to be done. You even get to clear the base alcohol by using charcoal. Just like the big boys do. These kits do have several steps, but they are easy enough to do. Just follow the directions that come in the box. ...Click to Read full Answer

Question: Approximately how long do you have to shake a 5 gallon carboy to get oxygen saturation (8ppm)?
Answer:

Shaking the carboy vigorously for 45 seconds will do it....Click to Read full Answer

Question: 3 days and no activity in my beer?
Answer:

There are several reasons for lag time in your beer. If you are ever concerned about it dust off your hydrometer and compare a reading to the estimated original gravity, if it is fermenting or has finished fermenting then the hydrometer will cue you in to where things are at. Remember that wort is most vulnerable prior to fermentation so take a sample with utmost sanitary concern. Also trust your senses, if it has fermented it will smell like beer and there will be a foam ring indicating a krausen. Ferment times can easily vary from 24 hours to 10 days depending on the conditions and yeast strain employed. Activity will vary from batch to batch since there are so many variables affecting performance. Damaged yeast from shipping or improper storage conditions at home, may take time to propagate and “heal” and lag times up to 3 days are not uncommon. Any doubt about the viability of the yeast, make a yeast starter, to give the healthy cells an opportunity to propagate. E.G.: extreme hot or cold temperatures, expired yeast....Click to Read full Answer

Question: How should I store my yeast?
Answer:

Yeast will normally be stored in a refrigerator until you are ready to use it. Dry yeast does not require being stored in a refrigerator as it is freeze dried, but if you want to be on the safe side, feel free to store it in the fridge. Liquid yeast always needs to be kept in a refrigerator. White Labs remains viable in the fridge for 3-4 months after production. Wyeast will tend to store a little longer at 6 months. Keep in mind that for every month the yeast is kept in the fridge, you want to pull it out a day earlier. If it has been in the fridge for 3 months, then pull it out 3 days before use. 5 days before hand would be the earliest that you would need to pull yeast out....Click to Read full Answer

Question: Is it legal to make liquor at home?
Answer:

To make this clear, we are not lawyers, but our basic research has told us this: It is legal to make liquor at home as long as you do not use a still. You might want to check with your state laws because some states limit the percentage of alcohol you can make at home. Each of the Classic Liquors kits will make around 20-25% alcohol without the need for a still. This is around the same percentage as most schnapps made. Don’t confuse alcohol percentage with proof. A 20% alcohol liquor is around 40 proof. ...Click to Read full Answer

Question: What equipment do I need to make liquor?
Answer:

Let’s start off by saying that you are not going to need, or use, a still with the liquor kits that Midwest Supplies sells. These are lower alcohol liquors that are very similar to the alcohol content in schnapps. Most of the kits will make roughly 20-25% alcohol. Here is a list of the equipment you need: • 2- 1 gallon glass jugs • Screw on cap for jug • Stopper • Airlock • Curved racking cane • Siphon Tubing The Classic Liquors series of kits are very easy to make, and quite good. You can impress your friends the next time they come over and offer them a mixed drink with your homemade liquor. Each of the Classic Liquors kits make around 1 gallon at time. NOTE: You do not need this kit if you are using the Liquor Quick Essences as all you have to do for those is mix the essence with a neutral spirit, such as vodka. ...Click to Read full Answer