Yankee Brew News Archive

Homebrewing Corner

Originally Published: 02/97

By: Gregg Glaser

Homebrewing Corner

By Gregg Glaser

Yankee Brew News Staff

This issue we'll take a look at two new offerings on the fermentation front; a new wort thermometer, and a new commercial source for pure yeast strains.

Easy Monitoring of Wort Temperature with the Fermometer

The Fermometer, Tkach Enterprises, POB 344, Castle Rock, CO 80104, 303-660-2297, $1.50-$2.50

The Fermometer is a paper thin liquid crystal thermometer that attaches to the outside of a fermenter with a self-adhesive backing. Measuring 1" x 8", the Fermometer has a temperature range of 36 to 78 degrees Fahrenheit measured in two-degree increments. Tan, blue and green colors highlight the current temperature. Depending on the color changes between each liquid crystal, temperature increments of one degree can be determined. Suggested fermentation temperature ranges for lagers and ales are also printed on the strip. The Fermometer is water resistant, so it can be left on the fermenter during cleaning.

Steve Tkach, developer of the Fermometer, designed the device to monitor wort temperatures for yeast pitching and during fermentation. The Fermometer also eliminates the risk of contamination from using a traditional immersion thermometer.

A New Source for Pure Yeast Cultures

Saccharomyces Supply Company, 190 Vanderbilt Ave., Norwood, Massachusetts, 02062, 617-769-7888, $4.00-$5.00

Seth Cohen, a microbiologist Ph.D. and homebrewer from Norwood, Massachusetts, has for several years cultured up different beer yeasts for the members of his homebrew club, the Boston Wort Processors, which has modestly dubbed him The Yeast God.

At this point Cohen has 170 yeast strains collected. Within the last year or so he began offering slants to brewpubs, and then to homebrew supply shops. For homebrewers, Cohen's Saccharomyces Supply Company offers eleven yeast strains: Irish, U.S., Scotch, English and Belgian ale; Belgian wit; English bitter; German wheat; and German, Czech and steam lager. He offers 80 strains to brewpubs.

Each homebrewer's yeast tube is ready to pitch, with 20 ml of concentrated yeast slurry containing 5-7 billion yeast cells.