Which Yeast Nutrient Do You Need? Wine vs Beer vs Cider vs Spirits
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Not all yeast nutrients are the same, and the one that works for a fruit wine can be the wrong choice for a batch of cider or a spirits wash. Use the filter below to narrow the table down to what's actually relevant to what you're brewing.
What are you brewing?
Yeast Nutrient Comparison Table
| Product | Best for | Dosage | Size | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yeast Nutrient 100g | Fruit & country wines, mead | 1 tsp (5g) per 4.5L (~20-25g per 23L) | 100g | £2.89 |
| Yeast Nutrient 500g | Same as above, higher volume brewers | 1 tsp (5g) per 4.5L (~20-25g per 23L) | 500g | £6.99 |
| Mangrove Jack's Wine Nutrient | Fruit wines | Whole sachet per 15-23L must | 23.5g | £1.99 |
| Mangrove Jack's Cider Nutrient | Cider from fresh apple juice | Whole sachet per 15-23L must | 14g | £1.99 |
| Mangrove Jack's Beer Nutrient | High-gravity or specialty beer | Dissolve sachet in 100ml hot water, add per 15-23L wort | 15g | £1.99 |
| Distiller's Nutrient (Light Spirits) | Vodka, gin, white spirit washes | Varies by wash – see table below | 450g | £13.99 |
| Distiller's Nutrient (Dark Spirits) | Rum, whiskey, dark spirit washes | Varies by wash – see table below | 450g | £13.99 |
Distiller's Nutrient: Dosage Varies by Wash Type
Unlike the other nutrients on this page, Still Spirits Distiller's Nutrient doesn't use one fixed dose — the amount changes depending on what you're fermenting and the ABV you're aiming for. Both Light and Dark versions treat up to 25L:
| Wash type | Max ABV | Light Spirits dose | Dark Spirits dose |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sugar wash | Up to 15% | 150g | 75g |
| Fruit mash | Up to 15% | — (see Sugar wash) | 50g |
| Potato wash | Up to 10% | 100g | — |
| Molasses wash | Up to 12% | 100g | 50g |
Ingredients (both Light and Dark): Yeast nutrients, antifoaming agent, vitamins, trace minerals.
Why the Brew Type Actually Matters
Nutrient needs come down to how much nitrogen is already in what you're fermenting. Grape juice, malt and honey each start from a different place, which is why a one-size-fits-all nutrient is often the wrong call:
- Wine and mead from fruit or honey are naturally low in nitrogen — nutrient is close to essential.
- Cider from fresh apple juice is similarly short on nitrogen, which is why a cider-specific blend like Mangrove Jack's Cider Nutrient tends to outperform a generic one.
- Beer made from malt extract or grain already has plenty of nitrogen built in — nutrient is the exception here, not the rule.
- Spirit washes (pure sugar and water) have essentially none, so a dedicated distiller's nutrient isn't optional the way it can be for wine.
For the full detail on wine specifically — including dosing and what happens if you skip it — see our guide: Yeast Nutrient for Wine: Why It Matters.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use wine yeast nutrient for cider?
You can, and it will work, but a cider-specific nutrient like Mangrove Jack's Cider Nutrient is formulated for apple juice's particular nutrient gaps and tends to give a cleaner result.
Do I need nutrient for a beer kit?
Almost never. Malt already supplies the nitrogen yeast needs. The exception is high-gravity or specialty beers pushed well past a normal ABV.
What's different about distiller's nutrient?
A sugar wash for spirits has no natural nitrogen source at all, unlike wine or beer, so distiller's nutrient is formulated at a different strength and is genuinely necessary rather than optional. The dose also changes depending on the wash type — sugar, fruit, potato or molasses each use a different amount.
Can I mix and match, e.g. use cider nutrient for wine?
It won't harm the batch, but you'll get the best, most predictable result using the nutrient formulated for what you're actually fermenting.
Are these yeast nutrients vegan?
Yes — every nutrient on this page is based on diammonium phosphate, vitamins and trace minerals, with no animal-derived ingredients. This is different to fining agents (used for clearing, not fermenting), some of which do contain animal products — see our Wine & Beer Finings Compared guide for that.