5 months in primary!!! How do i re-activate the brew?

[dave-flex]

Hi all, i'd say im fairly new to homebrew, i started a year ago and have made 8-9 batches all to great success. However my last brew got started but then left for 5 months! It's completed the primary but i never got round to bottling or kegging it.

It's a coopers Austrailian Lager. Its quite clear (as you'd imagine!) and smells fine only i'm sure the yeast will have died by now?
I've read before about adding more yeast and then priming for bottling/kegging and this will save the batch, i just cannot find any info for the life of me! (or did i imagine it? haha)

Any help would be great. I'd like to get this batch bottled up and try it!

Thanks in advance, David.

[dave-flex]

Anyone? Do i just need to buy some brewers yeast and add that? how much and what type?

[trucker5774]

I can't remember anyone on here having a primary so old. First thing, does it taste ok? If so you have little to lose by trying. If I was attempting it I would make a starter from light spray malt (lots of posts on starters, just search) and pitch it at the same temperature as the FV . Try for about 20C. You will be trying to get the yeast to adapt to an environment which is already high in alcohol rather than fermentables, but you only need to get some active yeast so that when it settles again you can continue to prime and bottle/barrel as normal. Someone may have another idea or a better method..........this is a little unusual!

viewtopic.php?f=12&t=22782

[legion]

I look forward to hearing how this one turns out.

[dunc]

Or you could keg it and use CO2 instead of attempting to carbonate it naturally. I think at this point that would be my preference, assuming it still tastes fine.