Manson Gold Old English Bitter - not starting!

[mattamyg]

Hi

This is my second kit, mansons gold, old english bitter. Unlike the previous coopers lager kit that I did, this was no sugar to add, basically dissolve the contents of the two tins in boiling water and add the rest of the water and then sprinkle in the yeast and that’s that.

The OG was 1034. This was about 14 hours ago and so far there is not a single bubble. Does this kit take longer to get going? Also, can I add something that will make it stronger? I did not mean to fill the fermenter to the 23L mark, I was thinking that I could dissolve another tin of the stuff and add that, with some fresh yeast to get it all going. Would adding some type of sugar help?

Any advice is greatly appreciated!

Thanks

Matt

[PMH0810]

Advice I have previously received suggests
a) not worrying about the yeast until 24 hours after pitching
b) have spare yeast in

I'm sure someone with more weighty experience will add to your post soon.

[mattamyg]

Thanks, I will try and stir it all up and get another tin of the kit in.

Is it ok to stir teh wort as long as fermentation has not started?

Also, will it be best to 'rehydrate' the dry yeast that comes with the kit? or buy a better yeast?

Thanks

Matt

[mattamyg]

Just gave it all a good stir, there was a bit of sticky on the bottom. The OG is now at 1040 with a temp of 22C. I called the home brew shop and they said to leave it as it was a slow starter.....

Now not sure what to do - any ideas?

Thanks

[mattamyg]

Hi

Thanks for the reply, forgive my ignorance,

what yeast would you suggest? I will probably get a few packets as it seems like a good thing to have around.

Also, I think that I may have 'cocked' it all up now - I stirred it all up with the brewing spoon, that 'was' sterile last night and then left out in the kitchen all day - if the think works now it might not be worth it! I cant believe I didn't sterilise the spoon......

I will get the recommended yeast and try, it was a £20 kit!

[MartialAnt]

There's no point worrying about the spoon now, i've seen people get away with worse.

Yeah in a drunken state i ran my thermometer through my lips to make sure it was clean. then dried it through a semi clenched fist. I drank all 40 pints of the tom caxton brew. It was fan-dabby-dozey. No off taste & no squirts.

[mattamyg]

Thanks for all the help guys!

[mattamyg]

Hi

I stirred it, put some more yeast in and it went off a treat.

Its now slowed down, a bubble a minute and the gravity is around 1020, it started at 1040.

I was planning on leaving it another week anyway, do you think it will drop any further?

Its also very cloudy!

Thanks

Matt

[PMH0810]

I guestimate yeast having a 75% efficiency so would expect it to fall to around 1.010.

If after a few days it doesn't move from 1.020 check the "Help! My kit has stopped fermenting" sticky at the top of the Kit Threads.