Adding Yeast Nutrient Prior to Pitching Yeast

Discussion in 'Homebrewing' started by FeDUBBELFIST, Jan 18, 2015.

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  1. FeDUBBELFIST

    FeDUBBELFIST Pooh-Bah (1,765) Oct 31, 2009 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah

    So I forgot to add yeast nutrient during the boil yesterday and I would like to do so now. I figured I could boil some water, add the nutrient, chill, then add it to my beer. The problem is, I'm boiling it now and it smells awful. Like, really bad. Chemically almost.

    I add this nutrient to all of my beers and it isn't il old or anything. And i never noticed any off putting smells before but I've always added it to like 12 gallons of boiling wort.

    Any harm in adding this to my beer now?
     
  2. VikeMan

    VikeMan Grand Pooh-Bah (3,067) Jul 12, 2009 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah

    Does it smell like piss? That'd be urea (CO(NH2)2). The yeast use it. Your beer won't smell like it.
     
  3. FeDUBBELFIST

    FeDUBBELFIST Pooh-Bah (1,765) Oct 31, 2009 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah

    Thanks VikeMan. I would describe the scent as ammonia, which is NH3. I don't know much about chemistry, but it looks like it might be in the same family as (CO(NH2)2). Any truth to that?
     
  4. VikeMan

    VikeMan Grand Pooh-Bah (3,067) Jul 12, 2009 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah

    Sounds like Diammonium Phosphate or Ammonium Phosphate may be giving up some ammonia. Or urea can have a slight ammonia-like odor. Either way, I wouldn't sweat it. Have you tried smelling the dry nutrient? I use Wyeast nutrient, and it smells awful when concentrated.
     
  5. FeDUBBELFIST

    FeDUBBELFIST Pooh-Bah (1,765) Oct 31, 2009 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah

    I use Fermax Yeast Nutrient from BSG. Strangely, I don't really get ammonia when I put my nose in the bag.
     
  6. VikeMan

    VikeMan Grand Pooh-Bah (3,067) Jul 12, 2009 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah

    I've never used Fermax, but my best guess is that there's no problem.
     
  7. Smokebox_79

    Smokebox_79 Initiate (0) Jan 11, 2013 Pennsylvania

    I used the phosphate in all my starters and get that aroma. Smells awful but never comes out in my finished beer. Even in the finished starter.
     
  8. MrOH

    MrOH Grand Pooh-Bah (3,995) Jul 5, 2010 Virginia
    BA4LYFE Society Pooh-Bah

    I tend to add a pinch of nutrient to the boiling water for starters before I add DME. It smells like someone peed on a freshly cleaned bathroom floor. Beers are still good. Don't sweat it.
     
  9. inchrisin

    inchrisin Pooh-Bah (2,013) Sep 25, 2008 Indiana
    Pooh-Bah

    I've added yeast nutrient directly to wine without anything bad happening. I would be very tempted to do the same for beer.
     
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