Yeast Whispering: Rehydrating Dry Yeast

Brewers yeast comes in many forms: liquid, slurry, slant, and dried. Each has its own preparation method before it can be introduced into the beer. When it comes to pitching dried yeast, there are two options:

1. Many brewers simply sprinkle dry yeast on top of their wort. 
2. Rehydrating the yeast with water before adding. Effectively turning the dried yeast into liquid or slurry.

There are pros and cons to either method. To directly add dried yeast to the wort, you may need to add a significantly larger pitch, as many of the yeast cells will die due to thermal and osmotic pressure changes. Rehydration requires more equipment, steps, and risk of contamination.

Always check with the yeast lab to see if the yeast should be pitched dry or rehydrated. Let's dive into the world of yeast rehydration.

Rehydration: The Yeast Spa Treatment

Rehydrating your yeast is like warming them up before the big fermentation party. It wakes them up gently, gets them in the mood to feast on sugars, and ensures more of them survive to do their job. Here's how to pamper your yeast:

What You'll Need for Your Yeast Warm-up Session:

1. Sanitiser (because yeast don't want to fight other organisms)
2. A 250ml container 
3. A larger container for a water bath 
4. Thermometer 
5. 200ml of non-chlorinated water (yeast hate chlorine)
6. Aluminium foil 

The Rehydration Ritual:

1. Let your yeast warm up to room temperature. Think of it as their morning stretch.
2. Prepare a small amount of water (~10 ml per gram of yeast) at the right temperature. Aim for about 10°C above the middle of the fermentation range, e.g. range is 15-20, then aim for 27°C.
3. Sprinkle the yeast over the water and avoid clumps if possible.
4. Cover loosely with foil and let it sit for 15 minutes. 
5. Give it a gentle swirl. 
6. Let it sit for another 5 minutes. 
7. Ensure your yeast cream isn't more than 8°C different from your wort. Yeast hates quick changes in temperature.
8. Pitch your reinvigorated yeast into your wort. They're ready to party!

Remember, happy yeast makes happy beer. By rehydrating your yeast, you're setting the stage for a fantastic fermentation. It's a small step that can make a big difference in your brewing game. So next time you're about to sprinkle that yeast, why not give them the spa treatment instead? Your taste buds will thank you!

MYO Drinks

Helping you to make your own Great Batch from Scratch.