Prestige Turbo Yeast Vs Red Star Yeast

Prestige Turbo Yeast is manufactured and distributed throughout the US by Lesaffre Yeast while Red Star Yeast is produced as a joint venture between Lesaffre Yeast and Archer Daniels Midland. Both manufacturers produce their products domestically.

Turbo yeast is a combination of dry yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) and nutrients designed to optimize yeast fermentation. Each strain used has been chosen specifically for its ability to produce alcohol, with optimal nutrients tailored specifically to what the yeast requires at each stage of fermentation. Nutrients are essential because distillers yeast cannot live off sugar alone – it requires nitrogen, vitamin (amino) compounds and pH adjustment as sugar has an acidic pH level which stresses out its cells.

The nutrient blend also includes about 15% Trehalose, an important “start sugar” used by yeast to survive its initial days of fermentation and protect it from experiencing an osmotic shock when added to another sugar solution, helping it adapt quickly.

Most turbo yeast packages are intended to accommodate batches up to 6.6 US gallons (25 liters) but larger batches can also be accommodated, although fermentation will likely occur more slowly and alcohol yield will be reduced.

Before adding turbo yeast, it is essential that all of the sugar be completely dissolved in warm water. A plastic primary fermenter of 30 litre capacity must be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected prior to placing into fermentation vessel – this must then remain closed and left warm in order for yeast to convert sugar to alcohol via fermentation.