13,703
edits
Changes
added stress of low pH data from Peyer et al. 2017
Deciding whether or not to boil the wort can also depend on whether or not there was a considerable amount of alcohol produced, which commonly happens when the wort is contaminated with yeast. Pure cultures of ''Lactobacillus'' do not show typical signs of fermentation that we are used to seeing with yeast fermentations, such as forming a krausen, producing a lot of CO2, or fermenting wort more than ~1.005 gravity points (see [[100% Lactobacillus Fermentation]]). See [[Wort_Souring#Dealing_With_Yeast_Contamination|Dealing With Yeast Contamination]] below.
Once the soured wort is boiled or heat pasteurized, it can be safely added to the primary fermenting vessel without worries of future infections. The wort is aerated as normal, and brewer's yeast, or ''[[Brettanomyces]]'' yeast is then pitched into the wort as normal (usually brewer's yeast is used if infection of cold side equipment is a concern). At a pH of 3.4 or lower, the acidity of the wort can reportedly effect the fermentation of some strains of brewer's yeast <ref name="low ph">[http://www.homebrewtalk.com/f127/no-hop-berliner-weisse-415067/index3.html#post5280971 Michael Tonsmeire on HBT]</ref><ref>[http://www.themadfermentationist.com/2016/12/quick-sour-then-what-acid-tolerance-of.html "Quick Sour, then what? Acid Tolerance of Brewer’s Yeast." The Mad Fermentationist blog. Michael Tonsmeire. 12/13/2016. Retrieved 12/14/2016.]</ref>. For example, a published study showed that growth of US-05 was 82% at a pH of 3.51, and 53% at a pH of 3.17 <ref name="peyer_2017">[http://www.asbcnet.org/publications/journal/vol/2017/Pages/ASBCJ-2017-3861-01.aspx Sour Brewing: Impact of Lactobacillus amylovorus FST2.11 on Technological and Quality Attributes of Acid Beers. Lorenzo C. Peyer, Martin Zarnkow, Fritz Jacob, David P. Schutter, Elke K. Arendt. 2017.]</ref>. It is recommended to pitch a healthy starter of yeast, possibly with a higher cell count than normal. In the case of using dry yeast, re-hydrating as per the manufacturer's recommendations and using a yeast nutrient like Go-Ferm is recommended. Many yeast strains have been successfully used by MTF members to ferment pre-acidified wort: US05, S04, WY1098/WLP007/OYL-006, Belle Saison, Sacch Trois, Bret brux, B. clausenii, B. custersianus, Bret Drie (BSI), WY3711, and WY3726 to name a few (see reference) <ref>[https://www.facebook.com/groups/MilkTheFunk/permalink/1105185972842949/ Conversation on MTF about using specific yeast strains in acidic wort. 7/6/2015.]</ref>. [http://www.themadfermentationist.com/2016/12/quick-sour-then-what-acid-tolerance-of.html Michael Tonsmeire] has shown results that suggest that English yeast strains might attenuate slightly more and give better flavor results than other strains; Richard Preiss from Escarpment Labs expressed similar observations <ref>[https://www.facebook.com/groups/MilkTheFunk/permalink/1509509862410556/?comment_id=1509520015742874&comment_tracking=%7B%22tn%22%3A%22R4%22%7D MTF conversation with Richard Preiss about English ale strains and pH tolerance. 12/13/2016.]</ref>. Brewers who are having difficulty fully fermenting pre-acidified wort can try growing their yeast in the soured wort (pasteurize the soured wort first if needed) with yeast nutrients (Fermaid K + DAP, for example). This assumes that the wort still has a lot of sugar left over after souring (if not, DME can be added). See [[Packaging#Acid_Shock_Starters|Acid Shock Starters]] for more information on how to acclimate yeast to a highly acidic environment to improve fermentation.
===Souring in the Primary Fermenter===