brewers yeast

[brysie]

anyone know the difference between the yeast we use for brewing and brewers yeast from the chemist?

[brysie]

thanks chris

i wonder what difference it would make to the taste of the beer?

[steve_flack]

It's worth remembering that yeast does a lot more than just convert sugar to alcohol - it's one of the principal determinants of the flavour of your beer. I can understand the desire to try and reduce costs but IMO it's worth paying for a proper yeast strain that's designed for the job.

[StrangeBrew]

I've read somewhere that brewers yeast that's supplied by chemists, healthfood & pet shops is used in feed for racing/show pidgeons and fishing bait. More than likely to be other uses too other than human consumption.
Don't know what it would be like in homebrew though, probably best to stick with tried and trusted yeast unless you have the time and a spare kit you don't mind risking to ruin.

[steve_flack]

There's nothing to say the brewer's yeast sold in chemists is actually alive.

[StrangeBrew]

Nothing really to do with brewing but...

'Vitaminor is a brewers yeast grown on wort, grains an sugar derivatives. The raw material is only obtained from breweries. It is dried thoroughly and prepared with great care for detail without the addition of any chemical agents. It fully preserves the nutritional qualities of each of it's natural constituents. It is a 100% natural product rich in amino-acids, vitamins and organic mineral elements that are completely assimilated by the pigeon's organism. Vitaminor provides a complex of natural B-Vitamins, which are important for the metabolism of sugars, protiens and fats and therefore in the physiology of the racing effort. B Vitamins have therefore a positive influence on the physical efforts which the pigeon needs to produce. Vitaminor is a growth factor in the diet of young pigeons and enhances their resistance to various diseases and stress. It is an established fact that vitaminor brewer's yeast has a very favourable effect on the fertility of breeding pairs and on the vitality of the younsters. Directions: DURING THE BREEDING SEASON Add Vitaminor brewer's yeast at lease twice weekly to the ration of grain BEFORE THE RACING SEASON 10 day diet during which Vitaminor brewer's yeast is added to the ration of grain to stimulate the pigeons' physical condition. DURING THE RACING SEASON It is advisable to add Vitaminor brewer's yeast to the depurative mixture on the day they return from the race and on the following day to make sure they recovre quickly from the efforts. AFTER ANY TREATMENT OR DISEASE It is also advisable during and after a treatment against trichomonas, worms, coccidiosis and other infections to give Vitaminor brewers' yeast.'

[brysie]

well howay then.

who`s going to try it first?
i must be honest though, i watched a thing about how marmite is made and they get all the used yeast from the breweries to turn into a tasty
and nutritious breakfast spread.mmm. however, i cant see the breweries getting rid of it if it still had a use in brewing,.
so i suppose ive answered my own question really, although a very useful byproduct of brewing,it appears brewers yeast would be being used by the breweries
if a fresh product didnt do the job better.
im going to ring the folks at bays brewery later and let you know what they say.

cheers

[steve_flack]

however, i cant see the breweries getting rid of it if it still had a use in brewing,.

Generally commercial breweries have far more yeast around than they actually need. Each brew makes more yeast than was actually pitched but to pitch the next brew you don't need that extra. So either you throw it down the drain (bad idea as it's got a high BOD) or you sell it/give it to farmers as a pig feed or (if you're a big brewer) you sell it to marmite.

[brysie]

that makes a lot of sense steve.