Turbo Sugar, Dextrose & Fermentables

Dextrose is a clean, fully fermentable sugar for spirit washes and home brew, and this page has it in every size we sell, from a single 1kg bag of dextrose powder to 20kg cartons and 25kg sacks. You will also find Still Spirits Turbo Sugar, molasses for rum and liquid brewing sugar. It all ships from our Brisbane and Melbourne warehouses.

What dextrose is

Dextrose is glucose, usually made from corn or wheat starch, and sold as a fine white powder called dextrose monohydrate. Yeast can ferment glucose directly, without first splitting it the way it has to with table sugar (sucrose), so dextrose ferments out fully and leaves a clean, dry result with little flavour of its own. That is exactly what you want in a neutral spirit wash or a crisp beer.

Dextrose for spirit washes

In a turbo yeast wash, dextrose replaces the sugar called for on the turbo pack and gives the wash a cleaner, drier taste. A 25 litre wash typically uses 6 to 8kg of sugar depending on the yeast, so the Dextrose 1kg x 12 pack covers a batch or two, and a 25kg sack or 20kg carton suits anyone running washes every week. Our distiller's sugar wash recipe and vodka from sugar wash guide walk through the full process.

Turbo Sugar is the other option. The Still Spirits version is an invert sugar blend formulated for turbo yeast washes. Because it is already inverted, yeast gets a faster start and leaves less unfermented sugar behind. The Turbo Sugar 6 x 2kg carton is a blend of dextrose, sugar and carbon, where the carbon absorbs impurities during fermentation.

Dextrose for home brew beer and cider

Beer and cider makers use dextrose powder in two ways. First, as a replacement for the sugar on a beer can or kit, for a crisper beer without added flavour. Second, for priming bottles: a small dose of dextrose monohydrate in each bottle gives natural carbonation, a clean fresh flavour and minimal sediment. Black Rock Liquid Brewing Sugar is a maltose syrup that boosts alcohol in pale and dry beer styles and cider without adding extra sweetness.

Molasses for rum

Bundaberg Food-Grade Molasses (14kg) is the core ingredient for rum, and it also works in porters and stouts. The current batch is around 55% sugar content, with a 40% guaranteed minimum. Pair it with a distiller's rum yeast from our specialty yeast and nutrient range, and see the brewing and distilling chemicals page for nutrients, enzymes and pH adjusters.

FAQ

Is dextrose better than sugar for a wash?

Dextrose ferments directly and gives a cleaner, drier wash than table sugar, which is why many distillers use it. Table sugar still works; it just gives the yeast an extra step.

What is dextrose monohydrate?

It is the standard powdered form of dextrose, with one water molecule bound to each glucose molecule. It is the same product sold as dextrose powder or brewing dextrose.

How much dextrose do I need to prime beer?

Follow the rate on your beer kit or recipe, since it depends on bottle size and how fizzy you want the beer. A priming measure or carbonation drops make it easy to dose each bottle evenly.

Where can I buy dextrose in bulk in Australia?

Right here. We sell dextrose in 20 x 1kg cartons, 25kg sacks and 20 x 25kg bag lots, as well as single 1kg bags.