1st Beer Kit Disaster Can Anybody Help ?

[Dave d]

Hi Ive planned my 1st beer kit to the letter taking lots of advice from the forum and its been a bit of a disaster Coopers Austrailian Lager using Saflager - s 23 yeast, the main problem was the wort temperature I completely underestimated how difficult it would be and how long it would take to get the temperature from 30 deg c to below 15 deg c even putting the FV in ice did'nt help and after a few hours I just pitched the yeast at 20 deg c. Its taken overnight in the fridge to get it down to 14 deg c and as expected no fermentation activity ?

I have a few questions

1) When you hydrate the yeast do you stir it before you pitch it I did'nt and just pitched it. It was very lumpy in the wort and mixing the wort did'nt help

2) Do you have to boil the spray malt as this is what sent the temperature through the roof ?

3) Can this beer be saved ?

Thanks in advance

[Aleman]

RDWHAHB,

What temp did you pitch the yeast?

When you rehydrated it What was the temp?

Don't worry about it being lumpy, it will disperse OK in the wort.

I've had a beer take 3 days to start fermenting (I Pitched the yeast at 4C, and then kept it there without really checking it), and it turned out fine.

[Dave d]

I pitched the yeast at 20 deg c now I have the wort down to 14 deg c but its taken overnight to get it down to this. I have read that big temperature changes like that can kill the yeast. I rehydrated the yeast in water at 30 deg c. So are you saying fermentation does'nt have to start withing several hours ?

[Dave d]

Daab thanks for the detailed advice and reassurance I took alot of advice from your site http://www.18000feet.com

I suppose I'll just sit back and chill out now and yes of course its all about learning and experimenting I agree totally

Dave[/quote]