Homebrewing Aeration/Oxygenation Experiment

There is a lot of discussion going on in the homebrewing community about the necessity of getting oxygen back into your wort after a full boil. There are several methods being used and not everyone agrees on the best bang for the buck (shaking the fermenter or pure O2 injection). I personally experienced some empirical evidence that O2 injection was benefitial but I was hoping to confirm or deny this in a more scientific way.

Ok, so it's been six days since I pitched on this experiment.

If you recall, I posted that at 45 hours after pitching (remember the OG was 1.050):

#1 = 1.018 (64% attenuation)
#2 = 1.019 (62% attenuation)
#3 = 1.016 (68% attenuation)

After 70 hours, the SGs were:

#1 = 1.016 (68% attenuation)
#2 = 1.015 (70% attenuation)
#3 = 1.013 (74% attenuation)

After 144 hours or 6 days, the SGs are:

#1 = 1.012 (76% attenuation) 5.1% ABV
#2 = 1.013 (74% attenuation) 4.9% ABV
#3 = 1.011 (78% attenuation) 5.2% ABV

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• homebrew
• wort
• aeration
• aerate
• oxygen
• o2
• beer
• brewing
• brew
• time
• lapse
• timelapse

[jones3420012001]

Thanks for the videos Bobby. What type of camera did you use for the time lapse??

[BobbyFromNJ]

@jones3420012001

Webcam powered by some kind of free software. I found a better one called AnimatorDV which is also free.

[pzanello]

Final Gravity reading would be good!!

[BobbyFromNJ]

The day 6 numbers in the info box didn't change after that point.

[Auslion76]

everyone seems to comment on what they see... ie how fast the reaction times were, but i'm sorry, that all doesn't mean anything, so here is the most important question.... which one tasted better?

[Crosisborg]

Doesnt seem like the benefits of O2 offset the price.

[NavySealsutube]

less lag time = less chance of contamination

[tartredarrow]

So O2 gets it going quicker, but shaking goes more to completion. Though, a single trial is hardly 'scientific'.

[Anonx82]

I make 5 -6.5 gallons of beer and your example related to 1 gal, does it make a difference based on size? Does the importance of size (larger batch) increase the importance of using C02? Thanks for taking your time making the video.

[deaultusername]

looks like, from the fgs and attenuation that shacking has a negative effect as the nothin done control had superior results to the shaked to aerate one.

So its use airstone or leave alone from looks of it.

[Sezar538]

i have question i read somewhere that it's important to put ballon or gloves like you did because it lets CO2 out and at the same time does not let air in. (Air cannot be introduced to the mix or it will become vinegar.)

is this true? and if we did not put balloon does it will work out? someone help thanks

[1kickass]

man all this stuff looks complicated i'm sure once you do it would be easier the second time or if you had someone showing you how my batch would probably taste like shit and i wouldn't want to drink it is it easier to make a malt liquor???

[IndiaBlackAle66]

@Auslion76 It actually does mean something. A lack of lag time and more attenuative fermentaiton leads to more consistent results as far as FG is concerned, and a more orderly and predictable fermentation. How this applies to which one is better is dependent on whether you want to make one really good beer and serve it to friends and not be able to duplicate it, or a fantastic one over and over. If you wanna brew one good beer and impress coworkers, neighbors-go for it.

[naperjohn]

How much less effective using air versus O2?

[IndiaBlackAle66]

Did you see a difference in FG?