Understand Your Fermentation Profile

Creating Fermentation Profiles

A fermentation profile is displaying SG over time during the fermentation process and can be used to understand how well the yeast is performing. Fermentation processes are unique by nature and the fermentation curve is its very own fingerprint. Having access to this data allows a deep understanding of the inner workings of the fermentation and is an important tool to make great beer every time. The fermentation curves seen here are measured in real-time by the PLAATO Pro. If you are interested in getting fermentation profiles for your brews, simply contact us on the PLAATO Pro page. 

Measuring the Lag-phase

The lag-phase is the period in-between yeast is pitched and the fermentation begins. By looking closely at the curves above, one can clearly see the horizontal initial phase where the SG is constant, and the length of these lag-phases are depended on pitching temperature, yeast (e.g. strain, cell count, vitality and health), level of complex sugars, Original Gravity, and a range of other parameter.

Optimize Pitching Temperature

Pitching temperature is one of the most crucial parameters affecting cell growth, initial rate of fermentation, and the duration of the lag-phase. Learning about different strains of yeast and their ideal pitching temperature can significantly increase throughput and keep the quality high at the same time.

Pinpoint The End of Fermentation in Real-Time

Accurate determination of end of fermentation is crucial for repeatability and quality. A common way of making sure that a fermentation process has come to an end is by allowing the beer to sit in the fermenter for a given amount of time. This approach is viable, but not ideal for commercial brewers, who need to maintain fermenter utilization and create consistent quality. Measuring the specific gravity of the beer throughout the fermentation process will give the brewer a deep insight into when the different stages of fermentation are reached, including the end of fermentation. 

Compare Batches and Learn

When brewers have data-sets of multiple batches of the same recipe available, these can be used to understand differences between each fermentation and how these affect the quality of the brews.