Help 1st Brew - Lager Experts Needed

[qtip83]

Hi, I am looking for some help and advice.

I got all my equipment from my family who have stored in the attic for about 10 years. When i got it i only used young's u brew steriliser and cleaner to prepare the equipment. I am now thinking i have done wrong and ruined my batch.

It is now on its 2nd day and i have had no bubbling from the airlock or hardly any frothing. I am using Muntons Premium Pilner kit.

What does everyone think?

Any advice or help would be great

[dionferguson]

Fairly new to this myself but as long as it was sterilised and then rinsed the kit should be ok, did you stir it once you added the yeast and have you got it in a warm place like an airing cupboard or next to a radiator? if it's cold it will take longer for the fermentation to start

[burgo]

I am relatively new to all this, my first, a brown ale showed very little activity during the period it was in the FV, still came out fine and I worried loads for nothing. After you've brewed a couple you start to chill a little bit, I was like an expectant father for the first one, continually pacing

[brysie]

i hear ya...

[qtip83]

Fairly new to this myself but as long as it was sterilised and then rinsed the kit should be ok, did you stir it once you added the yeast and have you got it in a warm place like an airing cupboard or next to a radiator? if it's cold it will take longer for the fermentation to start

I stired it when i was adding the yeast and it is sitting right next to the radiator and i have a a heater beat on it as well.

[farmhousekeg]

Give it another day and if nothing is happening then I'd suggest you give it a good "rousing" by stiring it to get some air into the wort. Ideally if you have another big container which you can sterilise, then its a good idea to pour the whole lot from one bucket to another a couple of times to really aerate the wort. That should get the yeasties working. Failing that then get another yeast sachet from your home brew shop and pitch that into the FV.

Sorry to ask but ........... are you sure you added the yeast?

[Ditch]

Just another, random, thought. But; Have ye got a Thermometer? If so: What temp' did ye pitch the yeast at? And; What's the temp' of the FV?

To explain myself: I'm wondering if the yeast might have gone into the FV at the wrong temperature - and died. Or if ye might now have it at too high a temp'.

Just that ye don't mention such considerations above. And those stand out, to me, as the most obvious signals of potential slip ups. I mean; Brew Belt And beside a radiator? Smacks of a recipe for Stew, as much as Brew!

[qtip83]

Hi thanks for all the help and advice.

I do remember adding the yeast and stiring it a couple of times. I think i may have added the yeast when it was also still cold and getting up to the right temp - Would this affect it?

I opened it up this morning and it does have a vinegar smell to it.

[davvac]

Second Ditch's comments about the temperature.

You need to brew at 18 - 24 degrees and a radiator will be working at about 60 degrees! You might have killed the yeast at temperatures much higher than 24.

Cheers

Dave

[qtip83]

Ok so if i take the temp reading now and it is higher then 24, will adding more yeast still work or should i dump and start again?

[Ditch]

I do remember adding the yeast and stiring it a couple of times. I think i may have added the yeast when it was also still cold and getting up to the right temp -

I opened it up this morning and it does have a vinegar smell to it.

Oh dear. None of this bodes well For one, the usual idea is to franticly stir the five gallons of slosh just before the yeast goes in. Beat oxygen into the wort, see? Gives the yeast something else to get excited about.

Regards adding yeast to cool wort? I can't personally see that as being Too terrible. I mean; Dried yeast is often kept in a fridge anyway. But, again, it likely didn't help. Put the two issues together?

Saying all that; Ye say it's a Pilsner? Hmm. Sort of Lager, isn't it? Ok, well I only once ever made a lager. Came out like cows piss, actually But that means I'm far from the best qualified to have the last say. Lager things, I believe, are a bit different from other things. They have different preferences in conditions.

That's why I'm not suggesting ye sling it - yet. Lagers may well smell differently? But, it doesn't sound good. Does it?

Ah! Just seen ye latest comment! Sounds dreadfully high for a lager. But, again, I'm no expert. Wait till one of our Lager Lads finds this

Anyway, if it all goes tits up? Never mind, mate. Keep the faith. My first one (in years) went down the sink too. Hasn't stopped me!

[davvac]

Try looking here for some good advice about the conditions required for successful fermenting.

viewtopic.php?f=4&t=3523

I'm not sure about pitching more yeast, but I suppose it might be worth a go if the alternative is chucking it down the sink.

I brew in a colder room with an aquarium heater (http://www.petsparade.co.uk/aquarium/he ... ts/?p=4534) in the FV which keeps the temp constant. Maybe an idea for next time.

[brysie]

tell you what...

reading between the lines here, it sounds to me like you might have been a little casual in all the excitement of brewing, and perhaps not followed your instructions too closely.

if ive learned anything, apart from proper sanitising which is the most important thing...
following the instructions to the letter must be rule number 2 for a beginner.
now granted some kits dont have very good instructions with them and thats where great sites like this help.
but, unless you have a clear idea of what you have to do before you start, and stick firmly to that plan as you go along,
how can you pinpoint the cause of a problem later on?

ive got a sneaky feeling that you shagged this one son, but dont feel too bad about it. chalk it up to experience, get another one on
the go soonas, [follow the instructions properly this time] and by next weekend youll be bottling/kegging a goodun.

[mat69]

get yasel a stick on thermometer for your fv,that way you know the temp of your wort as you knock ya brew up and you can add hot /cold accordingly when ya top ya brew up to the desired amount..