When I first started this hobby I was always under the impression that, so long as yeast had food, they would multiply and eat. When the food ran out (fermentation complete) they would settle in for their long, post meal nap.
I now know better, (I think), I know that if you under pitch your yeast your run the risk of it not completely fermenting the wort. My question is, why is this? I would think that all you would really need is 1 cell to do the job. It will eat and divide, then those cells will eat and divide so on and so forth. Obviously this thinking is incorrect but I'm not sure why? Can someone tell me why under pitched beers might not ferment all the way?
Second, How does too much sugar stress out yeast. I would a good bountiful meal would be what they want, not stress them out? What are the repercussions of this anyway? I guess this might be akin to under pitching?
Third, what are the issues with over pitching? My guess is that you'll have a lot of yeast fighting for little food and this might cause some problems. My question here is what sorts of problems can be caused and how much of a problem, or rather how easy is it to over pitch your wort?
Thanks
WR
I now know better, (I think), I know that if you under pitch your yeast your run the risk of it not completely fermenting the wort. My question is, why is this? I would think that all you would really need is 1 cell to do the job. It will eat and divide, then those cells will eat and divide so on and so forth. Obviously this thinking is incorrect but I'm not sure why? Can someone tell me why under pitched beers might not ferment all the way?
Second, How does too much sugar stress out yeast. I would a good bountiful meal would be what they want, not stress them out? What are the repercussions of this anyway? I guess this might be akin to under pitching?
Third, what are the issues with over pitching? My guess is that you'll have a lot of yeast fighting for little food and this might cause some problems. My question here is what sorts of problems can be caused and how much of a problem, or rather how easy is it to over pitch your wort?
Thanks
WR