Article by Edgarbi on May 2, 2011 at 07:08pm under Prestige Turbo Yeast and Taste
The Turbo Pure 48 yeast mix can produce alcohol at up to 14% strength within two days thanks to its special combination of low volatile production yeast and nutrients designed for rapid fermentation. Furthermore, its temperature tolerance allows fermentation up to 95 degrees. To use it yourself you’ll need 6 kg of sugar dissolved into a 30-liter plastic fermentation container, followed by 25 liters of cold water until only 5 liters remain before adding 5 of your own cold water (and one Turbo sachet’s contents). Put everything back in an optimally warm spot between 2-7 days!
Distillation may seem straightforward, but in reality it is an enormously energy-intensive undertaking. According to BIER (a sustainability coalition that represents several large beverage companies), their 2012 study revealed that from source through shipping and disposal a 750 milliliter bottle of column-still liquor produces six pounds of CO2. Pot-still spirits were even dirtier – emitting seven pounds. Most GHG emissions originate in distillation itself as well as glass packaging.
Distilleries are also water-intensive operations; on average, 12 times as much water is needed to produce one liter of alcohol than is consumed while production occurs; this water then has to be disposed of, usually through waste treatment systems; which creates both environmental and financial burdens that many producers seek to minimize.
At some of the nation’s more forward-thinking distilleries, meteorological and climate data is being utilized to guide their whiskey-making. Rachel Barrie of BenRiach Distillery in Scotland says she has scrutinized weather records to see whether heatwaves or cold snaps have had any significant impact on her spirit’s creation.
Other producers are taking it one step further. Nordic Spirits, an ethanol producer in Finland, uses spent grains from milling to fuel a biopower plant that supplies 70% of their distillation requirements, with the ashes used to fertilize barley fields recirculating carbon into the soil. Tattersall distillery in Wisconsin utilizes solar panels exclusively for their operation as well as providing surplus power back into the local grid.
