Safely adding enzymes (e.g. Beano) to lower final gravity

Question

I've heard a lot of mixed stories about people adding additional enzymes (Beano, GasX, etc) to their beers to drop the final gravity down very (sometimes undesirably) low. I've also hear mixed ideas on when it should be added.

As per a comment in a previous question of mine, there's been experience with adding it at kegging to assist with dropping the FG after the fact in the case of a botched attenuation, with the consequence of having to lengthen the aging to allow the enzyme to convert all the sugars it possibly can. I've also heard that people may add it during the mash (supposedly common in distillation). If it were added during the mash, would the enzymes denature in the boil, negating the need to lengthen the aging? Would it have enough time during a 60/90 minute mash and the lautering to have any significance?

Are there any other times/methods to adding enzymes or controlling their conversion to assist with dropping the FG in high gravity beers?

Answer 1

You should not let your enzymes get above 60 degrees Celcius. According to this article the Beano enzyme works best at 40 degrees Celcius.

You should add your enzymes on cooldown of the wort.

Answer 2

Is your goal in high gravity beers to make it lighter bodied? Adding enzymes after fermentation will accomplish this, but it will take time (like you said) and it will not lead to any more alcohol production.

Might I suggest a more popular and proven alternative to using enzymes to thin your high gravity beer: mash at a lower temperature (or conduct a step mash) and use simple sugars (e.g. table sugar, syrups, honey etc) in your recipe to achieve a lower F.G.

Answer 3

This is an alternative to adding Enzymes Post boil.

Instead of adding enzymes, You can add unboiled wort to your fermentor after fermentation has started to try to lower FG.

The unboiled wort should be pulled before "mashing out", to keep the enzymes intact.

I have read this awhile ago, but unable to find the source. but it should make a dryer beer.

Also The unboiled wort should have enough enzymes to break down left over starches.

I have not done this my self but I was going to try this on my next saison.

Answer 4

I'd like to add here that Brendan W indicates adding enzymes will lighten the body of the beer, but not add any more alcohol production. This is not always correct. Adding an enzyme will convert long-chained carbohydrates into more fermentable shorter sugars that the yeast can digest. In the absence of yeast, this would not change the body of your beer perceptibly, and if anything would have the potential to increase sweetness at a minuscule scale.

If there is yeast present, the newly produced shorter sugars are now available for digestion. The byproduct of yeast + sugar = CO2 + alcohol (and lots of other fun by-products - and since this yeast is probably stressed there is going to be a higher amount of them).

The real question here was how to safely add the enzyme. Since we can't denature it at heat, the key is probably to transfer a tablet as quickly as possible into the fermenter with a sanitized towel/tongs (and assume the interior of the beano bottle is sanitary from the factory). If you've had fermentation running already the environment will be low in O2 & high in alcohol, so not much will have a chance of taking off.