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EC1118 - How Slow!!!

PostPosted: Wed May 03, 2017 6:38 pm
by Professor Green
So I'm trialling WBAB with EC1118 yeast just to see if it's worth it and have 200 litre wash on the go.

I rehydrated the yeast and pitched as per the Lallemand documentation using their recommended dose of 25g of yeast per 100 litres and it's all going swimmingly except... it ain't going to win any Olympic medals. 3 1/2 weeks on and the SG has dropped from 1075 to 1040 and is still dropping. I knew it was going to be slower than bakers yeast but at this rate it'll take another 4 weeks!

I have the fermenter wrapped in a blanket with a heat belt and a controller to keep the temp around 23 deg C.

The one thing I didn't do was add the GoFerm which they mention to do as I thought the WB and AB would provide nutrients.

Anyone else here done a 200 litre batch with this yeast that can give me an idea of the time to completion?

Cheers,
Prof. Green.

Re: EC1118 - How Slow!!!

PostPosted: Wed May 03, 2017 6:47 pm
by Plumby
I haven't used it myself but I was thinking of using it during winter for a tpw, I have heard it goes well in cold climates and it gets pretty cold here in winter. Although with ferment times like that I'll stick to lowans.

Re: EC1118 - How Slow!!!

PostPosted: Wed May 03, 2017 6:54 pm
by TasSpirits
I've used it for 50L TPW and Ginger Beer washes, its quite slow, not as slow as yours though. From memory 2 weeks, while the temps down here were still OK. Does the pack have a expiry date? :think:

Re: EC1118 - How Slow!!!

PostPosted: Wed May 03, 2017 8:31 pm
by Wobblyboot
How much sugar is in it? I find ec1118 a lot slower but cleaner tasting vodka or neutral. To me it's worth the longer ferment time :handgestures-thumbupleft:

Re: EC1118 - How Slow!!!

PostPosted: Wed May 03, 2017 8:39 pm
by rumsponge
Did you aerate the wash after pitching before popping the lid on ? may help to get the yeast off to a better start.

Re: EC1118 - How Slow!!!

PostPosted: Wed May 03, 2017 9:57 pm
by Triangle
Fermaid nutrient is quickly used up during initial ferment so not causing issues later.

You have 2 choices for nutrient but depends on the underlying issue. DAP is commonly used but is non-organic nitrogen source so only useful if all other nutrients are available, however it does cause an increase in yeast cell growth. Good if nutrients are in check, useless and possibly detrimental if not.

Other choice is a yeast nutrient like Fermaid K but you need to add this and get it going before you hit 10% alcohol in the ferment as yeast uses bugger all nutrient by this stage. If you're feeding at 10% and over you're feeding any spoilage bacteria etc. Fermaid K also contains DAP so is your choice if unsure.

Either are an insurance policy, most of the time you'll be successful without the addition but you'll have less chance of encountering a stuck ferment or off flavours/H2S etc.

I'm not familiar with WBAB and possible nutrient levels, someone else can probably chime in there.

Re: EC1118 - How Slow!!!

PostPosted: Thu May 04, 2017 6:04 am
by scythe
What is the ideal temp for ec1118?
I thought it was down around 19°C.

Re: EC1118 - How Slow!!!

PostPosted: Thu May 04, 2017 6:28 am
by wynnum1
What quantity of bakers yeast would you have used the 25 grams a hundred liters would be for wine production and not a fair comparison using the minimal amount .Yeast starter may be the way to go as yeast needs oxygen to multiply and a lower gravity and when its reproducing is not making alcohol.

Re: EC1118 - How Slow!!!

PostPosted: Thu May 04, 2017 7:07 am
by Wobblyboot
Did u check ur ph? They been playing with the water this year Iv found and it made everything go slow or stall :handgestures-thumbdown:

Re: EC1118 - How Slow!!!

PostPosted: Thu May 04, 2017 7:25 am
by coffe addict
I'd be with wynnum on this 25g seems low, if you are using it for a starter and breed it up three fold you will probably find your times come down.
75gm per 100L is what saf spirit malt yeast recommends if not using a starter, it would seem starters are quite common in wine less so in whiskey...

Re: EC1118 - How Slow!!!

PostPosted: Thu May 04, 2017 7:36 am
by Sam.
I had 200L of TPW take 3 months to ferment in the cold with 1118 :-B

Re: EC1118 - How Slow!!!

PostPosted: Thu May 04, 2017 8:59 am
by wynnum1
If you where doing this in a commercial scale adding the yeast would get very expensive .

Re: EC1118 - How Slow!!!

PostPosted: Thu May 04, 2017 4:43 pm
by tipsy
coffe addict wrote:I'd be with wynnum on this 25g seems low, if you are using it for a starter and breed it up three fold you will probably find your times come down.


:text-+1: In beer making you would use a 12g packet of lager yeast per 23lts or 2 packets if pitching at low temps (12c)

Re: EC1118 - How Slow!!!

PostPosted: Fri May 05, 2017 8:25 pm
by Professor Green
Thanks guys.

I didn't check the PH before I pitched the yeast but then I wouldn't as I've not had a problem up until now. I'll check the wash over the weekend and adjust if I need to.

I did my usual aeration method; hose on full bore through a jet spray nozzle which has work well for me in the past.

Maybe I should make up a small yeast starter to add to the wash to kick it along a bit?

Cheers,
Prof. Green.

Re: EC1118 - How Slow!!!

PostPosted: Fri May 05, 2017 8:26 pm
by Professor Green
Sam. wrote:I had 200L of TPW take 3 months to ferment in the cold with 1118 :-B


Wow! Did it end up being worth the wait?

Cheers,
Prof. Green.

Re: EC1118 - How Slow!!!

PostPosted: Fri May 05, 2017 9:56 pm
by Sam.
Professor Green wrote:
Sam. wrote:I had 200L of TPW take 3 months to ferment in the cold with 1118 :-B


Wow! Did it end up being worth the wait?

Cheers,
Prof. Green.


Was very clean and looked like water :handgestures-thumbupleft:

Re: EC1118 - How Slow!!!

PostPosted: Sat May 06, 2017 7:21 am
by bluess57
If you want faster ferment, bump the temperature up

Re: EC1118 - How Slow!!!

PostPosted: Sat May 06, 2017 10:13 am
by Professor Green
Thanks for the suggestion bluess57 but I've got it sitting on 24 °C which is already a fair way above the optimum for this yeast.

Cheers,
Prof. Green.

Re: EC1118 - How Slow!!!

PostPosted: Sat May 06, 2017 10:18 am
by Professor Green
Sam. wrote:
Professor Green wrote:
Sam. wrote:I had 200L of TPW take 3 months to ferment in the cold with 1118 :-B


Wow! Did it end up being worth the wait?

Cheers,
Prof. Green.


Was very clean and looked like water :handgestures-thumbupleft:


I'll take that as a yes :D

Cheers,
Prof. Green.

Re: EC1118 - How Slow!!!

PostPosted: Sat May 06, 2017 1:06 pm
by Bumper
About to use this myself on some plums - I have 3 packs for 50l. Each pack is 5g and on the pack are rated for 23l. Any reason why people are recommending big pitches of this yeast? I was planning on rehydrating and pitching, but sounds like I should go the extra and make a starter, some extra cells won't hurt I guess.