Dry Yeasts

Home brewers have two options when using yeasts in making beer and these are the liquid and dry yeasts. Many home brewers prefer to use liquid yeast. Although dry yeast is often underestimated, it does have benefits that home brewers can enjoy.

As the name implies, dry yeast is made from dehydrated yeast strains for longer storability. It usually comes in a packet for one-time use and it needs to be rehydrated before it can be used for brewing. What makes dry yeast unpopular for home brewers is that it can be tricky to use, but if handled properly, they can produce great-tasting beer. Below are the advantages of using dry yeast in home brewing.

• No need for a starter: Unlike liquid yeast, dry yeast does not lose viability over a long period of time thus it does not need a starter once you rehydrate it. In fact, you can activate the yeast by soaking it in lukewarm water.

• It stores longer and better: Dry yeast stores longer than liquid yeast. In fact, a packet of dry yeast can last for about 6 months before it starts to lose its viability. While liquid yeast loses 20% of its viability every month after its expiration, dry yeast only loses 2% of its viability each month. You can also increase the storage life for up to two years by placing the unopened packages of dry yeast inside the fridge.

• It is affordable: You can buy quality dry yeast for half the price of a vial of liquid yeast, and most dried yeasts have double the amount of cells. Home brewers who want to save money for their future homebrew can benefit from buying dry yeast.

Dry yeast is indeed very beneficial but they only come with limited strains. But if you are still new in home brewing, using it can benefit the craft as it allows you to practice your brewing skills without the fear of spending too much money on yeast.