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?
     
    #1 FeDUBBELFIST, Jan 18, 2015
  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.
     
    #2 VikeMan, Jan 18, 2015
  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?
     
    #3 FeDUBBELFIST, Jan 18, 2015
  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.
     
    #4 VikeMan, Jan 18, 2015
  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.
     
    #5 FeDUBBELFIST, Jan 18, 2015
  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.
     
    #6 VikeMan, Jan 18, 2015
  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.
     
    #7 Smokebox_79, Jan 19, 2015
  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.
     
    #8 MrOH, Jan 20, 2015
  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.
     
    #9 inchrisin, Jan 20, 2015
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