TPW Poor yield

[Docjango]

Hey Guys,

I hope you can help me.

I've been brewing TPW washes for over 3 years without any issues. All of a sudden I am having issues with yield.
I have used the standard recipe with no changes. No environmental or equipment changes.
I have a current batch fermenting and it has been going strong for two weeks solid and I just measured SG and it is only 1.090.
I am not having any problems with my All Grain washes.

Cheers in advance.

[BigRig]

SG as in starting gravity or specific gravity? Either way 1090 is high and you likely have stressed /killed the yeast.

Also i would imagine gippsland is a little cool this time of the year or do you have it insulated/heated ?

What recipe / quantities did you use ?
Have you tasted it? Is it still sweet or dry/sour?

[Docjango]

Hey Big Rig,
Thanks for your reply. That was Spec Gravity after two weeks ferment.
The fermenters are well insulated and they have been at a steady temp pf 25-29 degrees.
I use the standard Bridwatchers TWP recipe, nothing fancy, and I have done over 100 batches with no problem prior to this issue.
It does taste sweet.

I am going to run it today (it's boiling up as I type). Just to see what the outcome is, seems better than dumping it.
I have one other batch fermenting now and and All Grain batch fermented dry waiting for distilling.

[Docjango]

Sorry I checked my notes

Recipe for 45 litre wash

15kg Sugar
500gm Tomato Paste
160gm Lowans Yeast

The wash tastes sweet

[BigRig]

I know you said you have had no issues previously but those quantities are way off from the original birdwatchers (tpw) wash. See calculator - https://birdwatchers.info/calculator/

Per the AD calculator your starting gravity is 1.127.

I use 12kg sugar for a 60L wash which gives 1.077. I would try keep it under 1080 to avoid stressing the yeast.

[Docjango]

So, too much sugar?

[BigRig]

Yeah mate. I think you will find less issues and better.product if you stuck to 8-9kg for 45L wash

[Docjango]

Cheers mate, I'll give that a crack...not really sure how I snuck up the volume....maybe getting a little greedy.

[Docjango]

Just out of interest. I ran the dodgy wash yesterday and got a yield of roughly 9%, so it wasn't a total waste.

[BigRig]

Just out of interest. I ran the dodgy wash yesterday and got a yield of roughly 9%, so it wasn't a total waste.

Yeah it wouldnt of been a total waste.

In hindsight you would get the same yield from the same size wash using 8kg, therefore saving yourself 5-10 bucks. Add that up over the year :o

We use tpw in the hobby because it is cheap and produces the results.