Wort Aeration

[AlexCricket]

I am a little puzzled and want to check that I am doing things right. I have been stirring my wort with vim and then pitching my yeast BUT am I doing this wrong? Should I be pitching my yeast onto a flat calm and then stirring

[OldSpeckledBadger]

Vim? That's a floor cleaner isn't it?

[AlexCricket]

Vim? That's a floor cleaner isn't it?

Absolutely - perhaps I should have said with gusto

[OldSpeckledBadger]

Absolutely - perhaps I should have said with gusto

All I do for aeration is pour in the water from a height. I then pitch the yeast onto the froth, give it a bit of a stir in and the job's done.

[vacant]

Danstar says aeration is needed only for liquid yeast starters and it is pointless but harmless aerating dry/rehydrated yeast.

[canuck]

my local home brew sop told me that its harmless and good for better fermentation to stir the wort vigorously several times during the first 48hrs after pitching. After 48hrs you don't want to aerate the wart anymore but before this its good to do this with kits to help them along.

So I just got home with my 3rd ever home brew kit and I've never heard of this technique/theory before. What do the more experienced brewers on here think?

I was under the impression once you pitch don't open your bucket and let it do its own thing. unless of course its get stuck but that is usually later than 48hrs.

[mickhew]

I've never had to aerate the wort again after pitching the yeast, and in my experience, isn't necessary. I thoroughly aerate, pitch, then leave.
It’s like raising kids, and fixing cars, people will always have different ideas. I like to keep it simple. Whatever works for you.
Mick

[canuck]

I've never had to aerate the wort again after pitching the yeast, and in my experience, isn't necessary. I thoroughly aerate, pitch, then leave.
It’s like raising kids, and fixing cars, people will always have different ideas. I like to keep it simple. Whatever works for you.
Mick

i tend to agree with you. but when someone tells u this in a home brew shop I feel like I should listen and do what they recommend. Since I am a a complete beginner

anyone else have an opinion? should I really keep stirring for the first 48 hrs?????

[Parva]

I wouldn't believe everything that you hear in your LHBS. Mine told me that I should be getting way over 75% efficiency batch sparging from a Thermos coolbox and 10g brews were easily done from it using the batch sparge method (not impossible but you'd get a much lower efficiency than his way over-estimated 75%+ efficiency) and when I asked him for some Whirlfloc tablets he said "What are them?". I was speechless. I know, that's AG stuff and not kit stuff but the way he put it across he made it sound like his advice was gospel when in practice, I know he's wrong.

[sib67]

I wouldn't believe everything that you hear in your LHBS. Mine told me that I should be getting way over 75% efficiency batch sparging from a Thermos coolbox and 10g brews were easily done from it using the batch sparge method (not impossible but you'd get a much lower efficiency than his way over-estimated 75%+ efficiency) and when I asked him for some Whirlfloc tablets he said "What are them?". I was speechless. I know, that's AG stuff and not kit stuff but the way he put it across he made it sound like his advice was gospel when in practice, I know he's wrong.

Abbey?

[phildodd]

I wouldn't believe everything that you hear in your LHBS. Mine told me that I should be getting way over 75% efficiency batch sparging from a Thermos coolbox and 10g brews were easily done from it using the batch sparge method (not impossible but you'd get a much lower efficiency than his way over-estimated 75%+ efficiency) and when I asked him for some Whirlfloc tablets he said "What are them?". I was speechless. I know, that's AG stuff and not kit stuff but the way he put it across he made it sound like his advice was gospel when in practice, I know he's wrong.

I'd imagine (and I may be wrong) that the old boy in the LHBS is similar to the old boy in the guitar shop: mostly wrong about everything...Or more accurately, far too stuck in his own, often outdated, ideas about how things shoudl be done to actually be able to give sound advice...

That said, my LHBS has a lovely, relatively young man who runs it who has been extremely helpful to em so far...

[Parva]

I wouldn't believe everything that you hear in your LHBS. Mine told me that I should be getting way over 75% efficiency batch sparging from a Thermos coolbox and 10g brews were easily done from it using the batch sparge method (not impossible but you'd get a much lower efficiency than his way over-estimated 75%+ efficiency) and when I asked him for some Whirlfloc tablets he said "What are them?". I was speechless. I know, that's AG stuff and not kit stuff but the way he put it across he made it sound like his advice was gospel when in practice, I know he's wrong.

Abbey?

Yes. I gather you have experience. I know he means well and he's nearby should I need emergency supplies and it's good to have a nearby shop when they are so rare but I find his arrogance a bit of a problem. I'm sure he doesn't mean to come across in this manner but he does and I'll only shop there in extreme emergencies.

[simple one]

Ha ha! His was the first HB shop I ever went in too. I left feeling abused, but he does know his stuff. The advice he gave me was really good (but harsh), and gave me my forum name. I went in with a bottle of my first all grain, which had a crazy recipie.... "no wonder its crap, just brew a simple one". I then got about a half hour of sound advice mixed with abuse. But it was worth every minute.
I used to be worried about going in, but I think I'll visit him again just to get a telling off for old times sake!

[PureGuiness]

my local home brew sop told me that its harmless and good for better fermentation to stir the wort vigorously several times during the first 48hrs after pitching. After 48hrs you don't want to aerate the wart anymore but before this its good to do this with kits to help them along.

So I just got home with my 3rd ever home brew kit and I've never heard of this technique/theory before. What do the more experienced brewers on here think?

I was under the impression once you pitch don't open your bucket and let it do its own thing. unless of course its get stuck but that is usually later than 48hrs.

The GW book mentions this too and suggests it can beneficial to aerate the wort again in the early stages of fermentation after the yeast has been pitched - but before the process nears the end of primary fermentation (i.e. within 24-48hrs of pitching).

If using a yeast that needs alot of oxygen then I can see that it might help sustain a good fermentation but I think there are too many variables involved and it is simpler to just aerate well to start and then leave it to do its own thing.

Having said that I did try this out on my last brew without any real issue. I can't say it made a huge change to the outcome though. I guess there is increased risk of introducing infection and also off tastes (if the timing is wrong).

[brysie]

well now.....

i have always given the wort a good thrash before pitching my yeast and then a gentle stir after half an hour to make sure its all rehydrated.
but then i leave well alone after that. i thought there might be a chance of oxidization if you splash around too much after fermentation had begun.