Well, we’re a week and a half into fermentation and I have an update…
I filled the fermenter on Friday, July 2nd and pitched the yeast without a starter. This wasn’t the first time I’d pitched the yeast straight out of the vial. Only recently had I started using a starter when I pitched the yeast. Starters are a great way to establish a healthy yeast crop. Feel free to read my post on creating a starter…
So, I was expecting to see some fermenter activity by Saturday night since it can take 24 hours to see fermentation signs when pitched from the vial. Was there any bubbling Saturday night…no. Ok, what about Sunday… nope. I’m starting to get a little concerned. Monday came and went and there still wasn’t any sign of activity according to the air lock. So, on Tuesday I was very worried and concerned for my batch of brew when I didn’t have any bubbling.
I had suspected that my yeast were dead when I pitched them since it was mid summer and I had them shipped all the way from Texas. So, I called Austin Homebrew Supply and asked them about the yeast. I did order their ‘cold pack’ which would be great if you order yeast in the winter. The cold pack was melted when I got my yeast, so it was a useless purchase. I was told that “yeah, your yeast were probably dead when they arrived”. My main question, was why the heck did they not pop up a warning or have some disclaimer on the yeast purchase. Also, what about shipping it in some dry ice container… They suggested that I buy a new vial from a local store and re pitch the yeast. They also mentioned that I take another gravity reading as he thought I had a leak in my fermenter.
Tuesday night, I took a gravity reading and just as I had suspected… no fermentation as the reading was 1.055. This was the starting gravity. The batch also had this off smell, but I haven’t smelt beer in this stage before so it could be normal. I came close to dumping it down the sink, but thought that I needed an expert opinion.
On Wednesday, I did exactly AHS suggested and bought a new vial of yeast. I also called up a good friend (and expert brewer) to come check out the brew. Well, when I walked through the door Wednesday afternoon the beer was showing fermentation signs. Typical, I call in reinforcements and the stuff starts doing what it should…only 4 days later. After we checked it out, we decided that I should just let it do it’s deal and check it out when I rack it to the secondary. If it’s bad then, it will see the drain. I didn’t even use the yeast I purchased since the previous cells must have had a few live cells and they multiplied enough to start eating the sugars in the wort.
I’m planning on racking it to the secondary in a few days. I want to give it plenty of time in the fermenter…. we’ll see how things turn out.
