yeast when should io start worrying

[mrlard]

well after a text book first all grain brew (all be it - it took twice as long as i expected)

I cooled the whole lot down to the magic 22 degree C. Pitched the yeast but 40hours on there doesn't seem to be any activity on the air lock.

I used wyeast 1968 activator.


when should i start to panic? or is it still to soon

[RichardG]

How did you treat the yeast, i.e., did you make a starter, or pitch it as is? 40hrs is longer than one would like, but not yet beyond hope. I've had a yeast that took the best part of 48hrs to get going, and that turned out fine in the end. Having said that, if you haven't got a pack up yeast to hand, I'd get one quickely, just in case.

[mrlard]

I pitched as is - just doing as instructed on the back of the packet smacking the packet letting it swell for a few hours and adding it to the wort.


I got some safale s-04 at home i could throw in

or some white labs WP002 which i was considering knocking up a starter with and adding in a day or so


I will be honest i am not sure what to do for the best HELP! (must save the beer)

[RichardG]

For the future, the general consensus is that with any 'wet' yeast it's best to grow a starter. The reasoning is that the instructions to pitch directly into the wort from Wyeast and Whitelabs is based on your having a new, fresh yeast to hand. Obviously, our yeast comes all the way from America, and won't be in the best condition by the time it arrives, thereby reduing the viable cell count. For that reason also I'd hold on to the WLP002 until such time as you do a brew with plenty of time to grow it in a starter. I use Brewlabs yeast slants myself, and usually start the starter (!?) on the weekend before pitching. As for now, I'd be seriously tempted to pitch the S04 this evening if there's still no activity by the time you're home (I'm assuming you're at work or such like at the moment). The longer you leave it, the greater the risk of infection.

[mrlard]

cool thanks for your help - i think i will go for that then

Plan to knock up another couple of brews this weekend so will get a starter made up from the wpl002 today ready to pitch sunday all being well

[vacant]

Are you sure your FV lid is airtight?

[smdjoachim]

Looking at the surface of the FV should tell you if you are fermenting.

[mrlard]

Can confirm the fv is airtight.

nothing going on on the surface - so stirred it up and pitched s-04 its now taken off!


Fingers crossed it comes out ok.