William's Wort Oxygenation System

You can get 1.5 oz. oxygen tanks from most hardware stores to go with the William's Oxygen Aeration System.

An in-line 2 micron filter will keep contaminants out.

Watching my first lager batch enter its 10th day of primary fermentation and still going strong makes me wonder about ways to improve the happiness of the yeast in my care. Proper oxygenation, just before pitching the yeast seems like one more way to help the yeast along to the destiny I have chosen for them. Most of the literature recommends complete aeration of the wort once it cools to room temp. The simple way is to rock the carboy/fermenter around and around for a minute or two so that oxygen from the air inside gets mixed with the wort. This is the only time in the brewing process when oxygenation of the beer is a good thing.

William's Brewing carries two different beer aeration systems, one that filters air and requires a mid-range aquarium pump, and one that uses a standard home supply store oxygen tank to directly inject oxygen where it is needed. Both systems promise the yeast will get 80% of the oxygen it needs for a thorough sugar to alcohol conversion.