Can I use 2 dry yeast packets?

Yeast & Fermentation
1

I’m a novice brewer, just wondering if using 2 packets instead of just one will help the beer or possibly screw it up??

2

Depending on the OG you may actually need two (or more) packets of yeast for a given beer. Up to about 1.060 one pack is usually enough, greater than that pitching two is a good idea. Go here to find a good pitching calculator:
http://www.mrmalty.com

3

With dry yeast you are most likely good with one package. The Mr. Malty calc above is good but lately I’ve been using
http://www.yeastcalc.com/
for my yeast advice.

Short answer, the gravity of the beer determines the amount of yeast you should pitch. Going under is going to hurt your beer in some ways.

4

[quote=“inhousebrew”]With dry yeast you are most likely good with one package. The Mr. Malty calc above is good but lately I’ve been using
http://www.yeastcalc.com/
for my yeast advice.[/quote]The OP is using dry yeast though, so that site isn’t going to help him (unless I’m missing some option to switch to dry yeast).

5

[quote=“Shadetree”][quote=“inhousebrew”]With dry yeast you are most likely good with one package. The Mr. Malty calc above is good but lately I’ve been using
http://www.yeastcalc.com/
for my yeast advice.[/quote]The OP is using dry yeast though, so that site isn’t going to help him (unless I’m missing some option to switch to dry yeast).[/quote]

Well you sure are right. :cheers:
My bad…
If you can guess I don’t use dry yeast. Just trying to offer variety and I muck it up. Oh well, Mr. Malty it is.

6

Thanks guys, the info is really helpful!

7

[quote=“inhousebrew”][quote=“Shadetree”][quote=“inhousebrew”]With dry yeast you are most likely good with one package. The Mr. Malty calc above is good but lately I’ve been using
http://www.yeastcalc.com/
for my yeast advice.[/quote]The OP is using dry yeast though, so that site isn’t going to help him (unless I’m missing some option to switch to dry yeast).[/quote]

Well you sure are right. :cheers:
My bad…
If you can guess I don’t use dry yeast. Just trying to offer variety and I muck it up. Oh well, Mr. Malty it is.[/quote]

Last time I checked, 20 seconds ago, there was a “dry yeast” tab.

IMO, you can use 1 pack up to 1.075/5 gallons.

8

[quote=“Nighthawk”]Last time I checked, 20 seconds ago, there was a “dry yeast” tab.[/quote]On the
http://www.yeastcalc.com
site? I don’t see one.

9

[quote=“Shadetree”][quote=“Nighthawk”]Last time I checked, 20 seconds ago, there was a “dry yeast” tab.[/quote]On the
http://www.yeastcalc.com
site? I don’t see one.[/quote]

:oops:

I thought we were talking about Mr. Malty.

10

I pitch 2 packets of dry yeast only if brewing a large high gravity beer.
For instance - my latest barley wine received 2 packets. It went from 1.120 to 1.035 with daily swirling of the fermentor to assist in keeping the yeast suspended over 3 weeks.

Honestly though, next time I plan to pitch on top of a yeast cake of a blonde ale or similar.

For most beers - only 1 is needed.