So, I've helped my dad brew beer for years and Saturday I brewed my first beer solo. It was a BIG one. Here's the recipe: Steeped 30min at 155* - 12oz 60L - 10oz chocolate malt - 3oz roasted barley - 3oz black patent - 8oz flaked barley Brought to boil and added: Minute 60 - 2.5oz Northern Brewer - 10lb dark DME - 1lb light brown sugar Minute 30 - 1oz EKG Minute 10 - .5oz US Goldings - 4oz molasses Chilled in sink ice bath to 70* Aerated and pitched 1 smack pack of 1028 London Ale yeast OG 1.102 3oz of American light toast oak chips soaking in Crown Royal as we speak to be added into secondary The guys on homebrewtalk have me nervous thinking I haven't pitched enough yeast. The guys at my LHBS assured me I'd be fine as well as a long time brewer/friend that was hanging out on brewday. Airlock has been steady and there is plenty of krausen. Am I worrying too much or should I grab another smack pack and dump her in? Note: I'm bottling do I know I'll need to still have some healthy yeasties to carb
I think you need more yeast , it was preferable to make a starter for this beer.You can add a pack of Windsor dry yeast, it is the same strain.
I agree with the guys on homebrewtalk. You will make beer. The fermentation may or may not finish. And you are likely to have off-flavors. I would look for a new LHBS and possibly a new brewer/friend. It certainly wouldn't hurt. It could prevent/solve a stuck fermentation, and some off flavors (such as diacetyl or acetaldehydes) could be reduced. For future use, here's a link to a calculator to help figure out how much yeast you need... http://www.mrmalty.com/calc/calc.html
Mr malty is a must consult before any brew day. Under pitching is no good unless your trying to increase Ester production. It leaves your beer more susceptible to contamination. Starters are recommended for any beer over OG 1.040 just for peace of mind and looks like your beer should be around OG 1.070 at least
You under pitched. It'll make beer, but it might poop out and be too sweet in the end. The guys on HBT were right, you didn't pitch enough.
