Question:
The wife and I were making a batch of cider last night, when I pitched Potasium Sorbate to kill the wild yeast. Right after I finished, it hit me, that I pitched the wrong thing. I should have pitched metabasulfite…. sooooo… What can I do? Does Sorbate wear off after time like metabasulfite does? Will adding a yeast nutrient help? I hate like the dickens to waste 6 gallons of good raw cider. thanks all, in advance Richard & Pamela O’ Two Dogs Brewery
Response:
I do not believe that potassium sorbate will dissipate. I think you should drink the cider and start over… 
You may want more expert advice than mine, but I fear that I am correct. Sorry, Dan – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – The wife and I were making a batch of cider last night, when I pitched Potasium Sorbate to kill the wild yeast. Right after I finished, it hit me, that I pitched the wrong thing. I should have pitched metabasulfite…. sooooo… What can I do? Does Sorbate wear off after time like metabasulfite does? Will adding a yeast nutrient help? I hate like the dickens to waste 6 gallons of good raw cider. thanks all, in advance Richard & Pamela O’ Two Dogs Brewery
Response:
The wife and I were making a batch of cider last night, when I pitched Potasium Sorbate to kill the wild yeast. Right after I finished, it hit me, that I pitched the wrong thing. I should have pitched metabasulfite…. sooooo… What can I do? Does Sorbate wear off after time like metabasulfite does? Will adding a yeast nutrient help? I hate like the dickens to waste 6 gallons of good raw cider.
I have no direct experience doing this but here are my thoughts about it…Sorbate will only inhibit refermentation not stop it, generally it is used when the wine is done fermenting, has been fined, and you are sweeting it back so there isn’t a lot of yeast cells about and what are there would have to regrow to ferment the added sugar. I have has some wine makers try to stop fermentation but it didn’t work. I don’t believe it I would think that if you pitched a good amount of yeast that the yeast would overcome the sorbate and ferment the must. Some yeast nutrient might also be a good idea. — ALABREW Homebrewing Supplies http://www.mindspring.com/~alabrew Birmingham, AL Home Beer and Wine Making Specialists
Response:
Enjoy your apple juice and start over. Dan Listermann – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – The wife and I were making a batch of cider last night, when I pitched Potasium Sorbate to kill the wild yeast. Right after I finished, it hit me, that I pitched the wrong thing. I should have pitched metabasulfite…. sooooo… What can I do? Does Sorbate wear off after time like metabasulfite does? Will adding a yeast nutrient help? I hate like the dickens to waste 6 gallons of good raw cider. thanks all, in advance Richard & Pamela O’ Two Dogs Brewery
Response:
Depending on the amount of sorbate you added, I think you’ve consigned this batch to being apple juice for the kids. You could try the "step up" approach. Add a packet of yeast to a liter of un-sorbated apple juice and, when it is actively fermenting, add it to a liter or two of the sorbated juice. If this doesn’t moves into an active fermentation you’re euchred but, if it does you may just be in luck and you can add it to a gallon of sorbated juice. When this gallon gets into active fermentation add it to the remaining sorbated juice, cross all finger and toes plus, offer up a prayer to Ninkasi. Cheers, Ross. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – The wife and I were making a batch of cider last night, when I pitched Potasium Sorbate to kill the wild yeast. Right after I finished, it hit me, that I pitched the wrong thing. I should have pitched metabasulfite…. sooooo… What can I do? Does Sorbate wear off after time like metabasulfite does? Will adding a yeast nutrient help? I hate like the dickens to waste 6 gallons of good raw cider. thanks all, in advance Richard & Pamela O’ Two Dogs Brewery
Response:
richard and pamela==potasium sorbate is only a preservative it may not kill the yeast ,depending how much you applied and if it disturbed the fermentation==just give it 24 hrs before you call it apple juice==brian poke
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Enjoy your apple juice and start over. Dan Listermann The wife and I were making a batch of cider last night, when I pitched Potasium Sorbate to kill the wild yeast. Right after I finished, it hit me, that I pitched the wrong thing. I should have pitched metabasulfite…. sooooo… What can I do? Does Sorbate wear off after time like metabasulfite does? Will adding a yeast nutrient help? I hate like the dickens to waste 6 gallons of good raw cider. thanks all, in advance Richard & Pamela O’ Two Dogs Brewery
Response:
FWIW, I pitched 5 packages of dry champange yeast, and it is starting to ferment, albeit as a very slow pace. There is still hope. Will let the group know how it turns out. Richard
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – The wife and I were making a batch of cider last night, when I pitched Potasium Sorbate to kill the wild yeast. Right after I finished, it hit me, that I pitched the wrong thing. I should have pitched metabasulfite…. sooooo… What can I do? Does Sorbate wear off after time like metabasulfite does? Will adding a yeast nutrient help? I hate like the dickens to waste 6 gallons of good raw cider. thanks all, in advance Richard & Pamela O’ Two Dogs Brewery
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