Quick Yeast Help Please?

[MightyMouth]

I bought 2 packs of Nottingham yeast and I tried rehydrating one but it didn't foam up it just got wet and a little creamy looking, not foamy at all. So I have tried the second pack and it seems to be doing the same.

I boiled some bottled spring water and let 50ml cool to 30c then sprinkled the yeast on the top and covered the measuring cup with some foil, pretty much following Daab's directions.

Both packs are form the same lot but are supposed to be good until 05 2009. What are the chances they are both bad, Does yeast always foam up when rehydrating?

I have a couple packs of Safale 04, what is this like for flocculating out?

[Graham]

I bought 2 packs of Nottingham yeast and I tried rehydrating one but it didn't foam up it just got wet and a little creamy looking, not foamy at all. So I have tried the second pack and it seems to be doing the same.

I boiled some bottled spring water and let 50ml cool to 30c then sprinkled the yeast on the top and covered the measuring cup with some foil, pretty much following Daab's directions.

Both packs are form the same lot but are supposed to be good until 05 2009. What are the chances they are both bad, Does yeast always foam up when rehydrating?

I have a couple packs of Safale 04, what is this like for flocculating out?

You wouldn't expect it to foam when just rehydrating.

If you were making a starter with malt extract, then it might foam.

I would say that it's okay.

[MightyMouth]

Thanks Daab, Could I just add some of the cooled wort which is waiting for the yeast as I have just made up the kit and have no spare extract now.

[Graham]

I would just bung it in the wort if you've already made up the kit.

[MightyMouth]

You wouldn't expect it to foam when just rehydrating.

If you were making a starter with malt extract, then it might foam.

I would say that it's okay.

The last 2 lots of yeast I hydrated foamed up within 20 minutes, Not a lot but you could see activity and it doamed up a bit.

[MightyMouth]

I would just bung it in the wort if you've already made up the kit.

I would rather use and active starter. I have had 2 brews recently which have stuck short and I want to get this one feremnting quickly and well.

[SiHoltye]

When 'rehydrating' I take 5 times the grams of yeast in ml of water, add half a tsp of table sugar, and zap in the microwave for 3 minutes. Make sure sugar dissolved, cover with clingfilm, cool to 25 degs C, and sprinkle the dried yeast on that. Swish round after 20-30 mins. Add 250mls of cooled wort taken from the boil after 30 mins of the boil and cooled to 25 degs C to the yeast solution, and by the time you're ready to pitch it's champing at the bit. Ignore the wort bit if its a kit.

[MightyMouth]

I bunged the Nottingham in as Graham suggested seeing as DaaB's sanctioned it, he's never done me wrong before and he still hasn't, it bubbling away now.