Ok, so you can trust my science or not, but the results of this test will determine whether I continue to pump pure O2 into my wort from now on.
First, the setup:
2 gallon batch boiled down to a final volume of 1.75g.
2.42 pounds of Pale LME (someone gave me a Mr Beer refill kit so I had to do something with it.)
Boiled bottled water and threw in 1/2oz Cascade and let it go for 30 mins.
Added LME and let that boil for 10 minutes. (in the meantime, rehydrated half a pack of Safale S-04 dry yeast in 80dF water)
With 5 minutes left in a 45 minute boil, I threw in another 1/2oz Cascade.
Cooled with an icebath to 75dF then gently poured the wort through a straining funnel into 3 one-gallon fermenters to which I added exactly 2 tablespoons of suspended yeast. The OG was 1.050 exactly. Each fermenter got the following "aeration" activity after pitching:
#1 No deliberate aeration. It foamed a little from falling through the funnel.
#2 Capped the fermenter and shook it vigorously for exactly 2 minutes.
#3 Ran O2 through an aquarium stone for exactly 2 minutes (which was the point at which the foam was about to rise out of the neck of the fermenter.)
After the above, I rubberbanded a santized latex glove on top of the fermenters to act as a visual indicator of fermentation. The test involves a timelapse camera so an airlock would not show fermentation properly.
I set up the fermenters in front of my webcam and had it take an image every 10 seconds. I have some preliminary results that I found really interesting but I'll wait to share them when I can post the video later tonight. Hope it helps some of you make decisions. Stay tuned.
First, the setup:
2 gallon batch boiled down to a final volume of 1.75g.
2.42 pounds of Pale LME (someone gave me a Mr Beer refill kit so I had to do something with it.)
Boiled bottled water and threw in 1/2oz Cascade and let it go for 30 mins.
Added LME and let that boil for 10 minutes. (in the meantime, rehydrated half a pack of Safale S-04 dry yeast in 80dF water)
With 5 minutes left in a 45 minute boil, I threw in another 1/2oz Cascade.
Cooled with an icebath to 75dF then gently poured the wort through a straining funnel into 3 one-gallon fermenters to which I added exactly 2 tablespoons of suspended yeast. The OG was 1.050 exactly. Each fermenter got the following "aeration" activity after pitching:
#1 No deliberate aeration. It foamed a little from falling through the funnel.
#2 Capped the fermenter and shook it vigorously for exactly 2 minutes.
#3 Ran O2 through an aquarium stone for exactly 2 minutes (which was the point at which the foam was about to rise out of the neck of the fermenter.)
After the above, I rubberbanded a santized latex glove on top of the fermenters to act as a visual indicator of fermentation. The test involves a timelapse camera so an airlock would not show fermentation properly.
I set up the fermenters in front of my webcam and had it take an image every 10 seconds. I have some preliminary results that I found really interesting but I'll wait to share them when I can post the video later tonight. Hope it helps some of you make decisions. Stay tuned.