Dry yeast

[brewerTristan]

I usually go ahead and rehydrate, but the response here is making me reconsider.

[DannyW]

I sprinkle the dry yeast on the foam left from aerating, and don't stir. Just walk away. I tell myself that the yeast gets more gently hydrated that way than if it were to hit the actual liquid right away.

[rhino777]

Don't rehydrate...always good results.

[Quin]

ALWAYS REHYDRATE! The yeast can't control what passes through the cell wall membrane when they are in a dehydrated state. Allowing them to rehydrate in water versus wort will get you 2-3x more viable yeast for fermentation.

WTF? I would use plain tap water before i just sprinkled it onto the wort.

Bunch of lazy bastards.

Wow. I had to vent.

[3 Dogs]

If you don't rehydrate correctly, you are better off to just sprinkle it on top. I have done both and the results are the same. The beer is fine either way. Now, I just sprinkle on top and don't worry about not rehydrating. This is why I use dry yeast. One less thing to screw around with. I only use liquid yeast for specialty beers, which is only once or twice a year. Dry yeast most of the time.

3 Dogs

[Weenie Boy]

I started out rehydrating way back when. Now I do not. I have not noticed any difference and I use 04 and 05 almost exclusively. Many seem to like the clean taste of the beer with the dry yeast.
Two gold medals and one silver medal at the Chillin N Swillin Brewfest this weekend. It might just be an early Rat Pad Week.

Weenie Boy

[brewinhard]

I always rehydrate. You defitely are not pitching the same amount of yeast into your brew if you don't rehydrate. By sprinkling the yeast on the surface of the wort, you greatly reduce the number of viable cells to perform your fermentation. I just listened to Jamil show on ESB where he talks about this exact issue...

Now, I can believe it probably doesn't make too much of a difference with an average gravity beer (1050) simply because of how much yeast is in a dry packet, but with anything larger in gravity you might not get the best results. And honestly, does it really take that much more work to boil up a cup of water and let the yeast sit for 15 min?

[Sent From My iPhone]

I always rehydrate. Adds about another 30 seconds to my brew day and the Pope and Rock Candy suggest doing it.