Using pure oxygen

[Elderberry]

There's an article in the most recent Zymurgy that actually recommends against using pure oxygen. At least that's what my quick scan of the article got out of it.

[Cervantes]

Could you give us a very brief synopses regarding their reasons for this?

[niels]

Could you give us a very brief synopses regarding their reasons for this?

No time to read the article in full and make a synopses, but I added the article to this post.

Comparing Wort Oxygenation Methods.pdf

Source: Zymurgy May/June 2014

(411.21 KiB) Downloaded 101 times

- Niels

[royco]

There is an interesting article on the Wyeast Labs site which put my mind to rest:

https://www.wyeastlab.com/comm_b_oxygenation.cfm

Apparently you need fairly extreme over-dosing to kill the yeast, like 30+ ppm, according to another source. Using an aquarium pump takes about half an hour for a 50L batch as opposed to 2~3 mins for pure O2.
Please note I have only done one brew using O2 and will do another tomorrow, so this may be beginners' luck, but the Wit was great. The ferment using rehydrated S33 started in around 4 hours.

Another good reason to use O2 is that if you want to do great lagers you need about 10~12 ppm so simply aerating the wort will result in a compromised fermentation.

And of course pure O2 kills all living things (OK, maybe not a cockroach -- they can survive nuclear blasts) but generally there is no chance of contamination through the oxygenation process.

[Cervantes]

What I take from the Zymurgy article is that pure O2 injection may not be the best bang for your buck. But it's certainly the quickest and most efficient method. Just be careful not to over do it.

[piet_v]

The ferment using rehydrated S33 started in around 4 hours.

well-applied dry yeast will do just that without oxygenation.

[royco]

The ferment using rehydrated S33 started in around 4 hours.

well-applied dry yeast will do just that without oxygenation.

Yes Piet, I have only ever used dry Ferments yeast with good results until the last brew. Couldn't be bothered to prepare starters but rehydrating is so easy and has a certain feel-good appeal

[royco]

I use pure oxygen through a stone for 30 to 60 seconds, but at a very slow rate.

I figure less pressure gives the oxygen more time to be absorbed by the wort. If it's all bubbling vigorously out of the top of the wort then you're wasting oxygen.

I find that this gives a really good fermentation.

Andy, you read it spot-on. It's about the money. A used porta-pak welding cylinder here can be obtained for $30 and a Chinese flowmeter about the same. Cheap for the convenience.
What size stone to you use? Mine is a stainless steel 0.5 micron so the bubbles are very fine.

I am pitching this morning after NC-ing an Amber Ale overnight in our swimming pool, which happened to be 16°C. For my 50L I am going to oxygenate for 3 mins.
Will report any problems!

Royco

[Cervantes]

What size stone to you use? Mine is a stainless steel 0.5 micron so the bubbles are very fine.

Mine is also 0.5 micron.

I find that for 20 litres, 30 second to a minute at low pressure does the job well. It's certainly a noticeably better fermentation than when I was getting by just splashing the wort into the fermentor.

[Batz]

I'm giving it a go, almost have all gear together.

[royco]

What size stone to you use? Mine is a stainless steel 0.5 micron so the bubbles are very fine.

Mine is also 0.5 micron.

I find that for 20 litres, 30 second to a minute at low pressure does the job well. It's certainly a noticeably better fermentation than when I was getting by just splashing the wort into the fermentor.

+1
Just pitched now into a 50L brew and by the time I get back from golf it should be bubbling merrily

[Luis Coentrao]

Guys, this literature deserves some atention:

- https://www.morebeer.com/articles/oxyge ... brulosophy

cheers

[Munz]

Guys, this literature deserves some atention:

- https://www.morebeer.com/articles/oxyge ... brulosophy

cheers

Great article!

Thanks

[McMullan]

Has anyone attempted a fermentation without oxygenating the wort?

[Nesto]

Guys, this literature deserves some atention:

- https://www.morebeer.com/articles/oxyge ... brulosophy

cheers

I'm guessing you read the same recent exBEERiment that I did...
http://brulosophy.com/2015/10/19/wort-a ... t-results/

I'm still going to be oxygenating with pure O2