How long should I wait before re pitching ?

Discussion in 'Homebrewing' started by Ejayz, Jun 30, 2012.

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  1. Ejayz

    Ejayz Initiate (0) May 15, 2011 Iowa

    I brewed a wheat beer last night and pitched my yeast just before midnight. I used Fermentis safe ale US 05. When I checked it this morning there was zero fermentation activity. This has never happened to me before normally this yeast gets going with in the first 4 to 8 hours. After flame out last night I put the chiller in the pot and let it run extra long. When I brought the pot inside it was at 80 degrees. A good 45 minuets passed before I pitched. So by this time I figured it was safe because the wort would be in or close to the 74 degree range. ( no I did not take a temp reading at pitch time I was exhausted!) I know it can take up to 48 hours but should I really wait that long?
     
  2. Bonis

    Bonis Initiate (0) Jul 28, 2010 Ohio

    I would wait a while. Give it at least a day, maybe wait til tomorrow morning and see what's happening. I can't recall having this issue with S-05 before, but who knows what can happen. How did you have the dry yeast stored? Did you rehydrate it? Just wondering, but I usually don't and it still works fine.

    It's funny because the same issue happened with me on my last batch. Used WL California Ale yeast, never had a problem with it getting going over night. This time it took 1 and a half days to get going, then it was off to the races. Be patient, don't worry too much. Worst case scenario, buy another yeast pack and pitch it in the next day or 2.
     
  3. FATC1TY

    FATC1TY Pooh-Bah (2,564) Feb 12, 2012 Georgia
    Pooh-Bah

    Did you mix it in the wort, or just sprinkle it on the top?

    I'd give it another day. Airlock activity is really no 100% given that it's firing away. My last batch took a day to start bubbling, and I thought I may have had a leak somewhere causing the airlock to not bubble. Opened up my bucket and it had krausen and everything, so it knows what it's doing.

    Relax and have a beer.
     
  4. MLucky

    MLucky Initiate (0) Jul 31, 2010 California

    I'm going to buck the conventional wisdom here (which I'm sure would be relax, don't worry etc) and suggest that you go ahead and add more SF-05 now if you have it on hand, mainly because I don't see what harm it could do and it will potentially do some good.

    I agree it's unusual for SF-05 to take that long to start, particularly at that high temperature. It's possible there was something with that yeast pack. Since they're cheap, why not toss another one in there, if you have it on hand or can get it easily? I don't think it would affect the fermentation character of the finished beer, which would be minimal in an american wheat anyway. Good luck.
     
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  5. Ejayz

    Ejayz Initiate (0) May 15, 2011 Iowa

    I got the yeast yesterday it came over night from Northern brewer. It was 90 plus degrees yesterday when they shipped and delivered it. The box sat out in the sun for a good 4 hours before I got home. I don't think this would affect it that much though because it was only out of the fridge for 12 to 14 hours tops. I do have another packet I got with my order yesterday that I can use. I think I will wait it out and see what happens in the morning.
     
  6. GatorBeer

    GatorBeer Initiate (0) Feb 2, 2010 South Carolina

    MLuxky-the harm comes from over pitching and the off flavors associated with that.

    Ejayz- have you taken a gravity reading? Airlock activity is not a good indicator of fermentation. Also, it can take up to 72 hours to show signs of fermentation. Take a gravity reading and RDWDAHB
     
  7. Ejayz

    Ejayz Initiate (0) May 15, 2011 Iowa

    Durning fermentation the beer is usually moving around or stirring its self. There is nothing going on in there it's just sitting there still as can be. This batch is time senseitve I would like it to be ready for a river float trip in a few weeks thus the concern. I am not one to get in a hurry when it comes to brewing but the sooner it starts the sooner I can bottle it. I have another sachet of US05 so I think I am going to bite the bullet and chuck it in there.
     
  8. VikeMan

    VikeMan Grand Pooh-Bah (3,067) Jul 12, 2009 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah

    Just checking... you were not running the chiller inside the house? If that's the case, there's no way the temp would drop from 80 to 74-ish in 45 minutes sitting at room temp. However, 80F shouldn't have harmed the yeast from a lag time perspective.

    So what happened after you added the second packet?
     
  9. MLucky

    MLucky Initiate (0) Jul 31, 2010 California

    I'm only aware of two potential disadvantages of over-pitching in a homebrewing situation. One is that because there will be less lag time, you're going to get fewer of the compounds produced during the reproductive phase and thus less of a fermentation character from the yeast. Since SF-05 is a very clean yeast to begin with, and since the OP is apparently brewing an american style wheat, I assume this is not an issue in this case. The other potential disadvantage I'm aware of is that you might encounter problems clearing the beer and you might get some 'yeast bite' if the beer isn't adequately cold crashed. Since SF-05 is such an excellent floculater (is that a word? well, you know what I mean) I doubt this would be an issue, but perhaps it's worth noting that you would want to make sure to clear the beer adequately once it's fermented.

    Are there other potential issues I don't know about?
     
  10. VikeMan

    VikeMan Grand Pooh-Bah (3,067) Jul 12, 2009 Pennsylvania
    Pooh-Bah

    I don't know how common/true this is, but I have heard of severe overpitching resulting in high fusel alcohols. I don't know if this was simply a matter of super-fast fermentations raising temps to fusel producing levels, or whether there is some other more 'chemical path' influence at work there.
     
  11. GatorBeer

    GatorBeer Initiate (0) Feb 2, 2010 South Carolina

    From Yeast by Jamil Zainasheff and Chris White: "what are the consequences of overpitching or under pitching? In general underpitching affects flavor more, while over pitching negatively affects yeast health more over generations. However, both can result in a less than ideal fermentation with high levels of diacetyl, acetaldehyde, and low attenuation. Too high a pitching rate can also result in low or unexpected esters, yeast autolysis flavors, and poor head retention."

    It might not be that much of a problem, but there are negative consequences, that's all I was getting at.
     
  12. Ejayz

    Ejayz Initiate (0) May 15, 2011 Iowa

    Well I re pitched a second pack @ 3pm yesterday. I did not re hydrate it like the first batch I think this was part of the problem. I just pulled out my blow off tube, dumped it in gave it a few swirls. When I got back from dinner last night about 7 it was bubbling away!! Today I have a very nice and vigorous fermentation going. So at this point I am pointing the finger at either a blown hydration process or a bad yeast pack. thanks for all the tips I will make sure I cold crash this beer (which I always do anyway) for a few days before bottling.
     
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