Two reasons to stir

[arthur]

Today Iv started my next Kit, 40pints of EDME Gold IPA using 1kg of Light Spraymolt and for some fun... and because I spilt a small amount of the DME, 50g of the finest quality silver spoon demerara sugar! Here with all the foam on top it looks like a very large pint of guiness. All has gone to plan as usual and Iv ended up with a wort at 29C and an OG of 1.040, now all I have to do is wait for the temperature to drop before pitching in my hydrated SO4.

Two reasons to stir though. After adding the boiled ingredients and the cool liquor and airating as the bucket filled, I open the tap into my inspection tube and took a reading, the OG was over 1.050, I thought this was a bit high and checked the temperature, 35C, for some reason I plonked the temprature probe into the top of the bucket lid, the tempreture was only 25C.

I thought long and hard about this, even prayed a little to the god of homebrew then the answer came to me ... give it a stir. Whilst airating with my paddle Id only been knocking about the top of the wort so as it filled the wort became cooler and less sugary towards the top. So grabbed my spoon and gave it all a really good stir, i expect most people already do, but as a beginner its easy to make mistakes so for fellow begginers out there like me keep this in mind. I expect the wort would of mixed by itself slowly but for a quick starting ferment give it a whirl.

Cheers
Adam

[ianac1]

Yep, as the hot water goes in at the start some is bound to sit at the bottom so after adding the cooler water it's best to give it a right good stir.

I actually do this about 3-4 times as i'm filling the fv.

It helps the water mix to an even temp, plus it helps with the aeration too.

Do most people just pour their yeast on at the end and leave or do they sprinkle it on and then stir?

I've always just sprinkled it on but my latest kit said to sprinkle it on and then stir it in, first kit i've had that told me to do that, but it worked out great.

[arthur]

I will most definately be stirring the next brew alot as well as knock some air into it, its bubbling nicly today with a large head of foam, its popped up the bucket lid too, even with a airlock on it!

As for the yeast I always make a starter with some of the wort and half a teaspoon of sugar, leave it for about 30 mins then poor and stir it into the wort, but I have before just sprinkled it on top and left it, still end up with the same results. Probably someone can give us reasons for starters, I did read using the wort helps habitulise the yeast and is less likely to end in a stuck ferment, anyone agree or disagree with this? Think its all personal choice in the end. I quite like taking time on all the processes of brewing, it feels more satisfying to drink the end result, well the 1st few pints then its just beer...

[EoinMag]

I stir to mix my wort and to equalise the temps, but never to get the yeast stirred in. I aerate by pouring one bucket of water into the fermenter from a height, so I end up with a large foamy head on top of the wort. I sprinkle the yeast on top of the foam, this has the advantage of hydrating the yeast on top of the foam so it's not into a concentrated wort straight away and by the time it's sunken through the head into the beer, it's already well hydrated and not going to be shocked. Lifting my fermenters from the kitchen where it's pitched to the spare room probably mixes it up enough, but I never actually mix the yeast in extra.

[Jerry Cornelius]

A tip I was given by Chris-x1 when I had the same thing, was to re-circulate the wort/beer using as big a jug as you have, so that it's all thoroughly mixed up.

In this way the dense wort/beer at the bottom is mixed with the lighter stuff at the top and you're reading is more accurate.