National Homebrew Club Ireland

Brewing Discussions => All Grain Brewing => Topic started by: fizzypish on July 05, 2013, 08:26:36 AM

Title: lemon juice
Post by: fizzypish on July 05, 2013, 08:26:36 AM
I've heard that lemon juice is esentially the same as yeast nutrition. Would there be any use adding a squezed lemon to the fermentor before pitching dry yeast? I assume it would be essential for a starter?
Title: Re: lemon juice
Post by: Dr Jacoby on July 05, 2013, 09:07:04 AM
I don't know whether it's good for yeast but I'd guess that if it was added to the wort post boil it might be a source of infection. What about adding it with 10 minutes to go in the boil (just as you would with standard yeast nutrients)?
Title: Re: lemon juice
Post by: Eoin on July 05, 2013, 09:14:20 AM
I use a teaspoon of old yeast in the boil when I remember, not sure I'd want to add the acid from a lemon, it might work in some styles, but not all.
Title: Re: lemon juice
Post by: fizzypish on July 05, 2013, 03:14:59 PM
Old yeast in the boil? Does the new yeast cannabalize the old? I would have thought the acidity of the yeast would make it ok to lob in. Then again I don't want to be the guy to ruin a brew with lemon juice.
Title: Re: lemon juice
Post by: Eoin on July 05, 2013, 03:44:47 PM
Quote from: fizzypish on July 05, 2013, 03:14:59 PM
Old yeast in the boil? Does the new yeast cannabalize the old? I would have thought the acidity of the yeast would make it ok to lob in. Then again I don't want to be the guy to ruin a brew with lemon juice.

Old yeast is one of the best sources of yeast nutrient apparently. I have some old dry bakers yeast I use.
Title: Re: lemon juice
Post by: Eoin on July 05, 2013, 03:47:17 PM
Google says lemon juice is good for distillation but bad for wines, beer is not mentioned in the article I found.

I'd not use it myself as I think it'd end up in the flavour profile.
Title: Re: lemon juice
Post by: Metattron on July 05, 2013, 11:39:21 PM
With some citrusy hops though...