Is Yeast Nutrient Supposed to Smell Like Ammonia?

[sreckner]

I mixed yeast nutrient from an unopened but old bottle with water to add to a new batch of Chardonnay. It smells like ammonia; kind of like the house did when the neighbor lady would give my mom a permanent. Is this stuff OK to use? I hate to ruin a batch of wine right off the bat.

Thanks,
Steve

 

[Wade E]

Here is the ingredients on some nutrients.

Yeast Nutrient, 1 lb. powder

Urea and Ammonium Phosphate

 

[grapeman]

A common name for yeast nutrient is DAP - di-ammonium phosphate. It has no smell in the solid form, but as you found, when combined with water it forms ammonia. It is mostly used up during fermentation and helps feed the yeast and keep them healthy and helps prevent bad smells.

 

[JohnT]

I mixed yeast nutrient from an unopened but old bottle with water to add to a new batch of Chardonnay. It smells like ammonia; kind of like the house did when the neighbor lady would give my mom a permanent. Is this stuff OK to use? I hate to ruin a batch of wine right off the bat.

Thanks,
Steve

It is OK to use. Like above stated, Ammonia is one of the ingrediants.

 

[sreckner]

Well, that certainly explains the smell. Thanks for the help!

Steve