Repitching the yeast...?

Discussion in 'Homebrewing' started by Stratacat2011, May 26, 2015.

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  1. Stratacat2011

    Stratacat2011 Initiate (0) May 26, 2015 Florida

    Cheers all!
    Ok so my first batch and I've screwed it up somehow.lol
    Process was by the book, but I havent noticed any yeast activity during the two weeks ive had it fermenting.
    I've read some posts where others had similar problems and repitching the yeast seemed to be the most common solution. I can do that but was wondering how that will affect my brew, flavor wise, etc.
    Also will the yeast eat any bacteria that may enter in the process?
    Also, I am not advanced enough to know anything about Gravity testing yet...havent read that far into the 5 "Anyone can brew beer, its easy" books that Ive bought!haha
    Thanks ahead for any help or input!
     
  2. JackHorzempa

    JackHorzempa Grand Pooh-Bah (3,375) Dec 15, 2005 Pennsylvania
    Society Pooh-Bah

    “…but I havent noticed any yeast activity during the two weeks ive had it fermenting.”

    Have you tasted this?

    Hopefully it tastes like beer. If the yeast did not do its job (turn wort into beer), then at 2 weeks chances are this batch is a dumper. Bacteria and other microorganisms would have ‘eaten’ the wort and it will be infected/spoiled.

    Measuring gravity is very, very easy. You need a hydrometer to do this.

    Cheers!
     
  3. cracker

    cracker Pundit (893) May 2, 2004 Pennsylvania

    You should get a hydrometer and take a gravity reading before jumping to any conclusions. It's likely the yeast has fermented the beer (can finish as quickly as 24-36 hours for some yeasts). Without a gravity reading you have no way of knowing. Go buy a hydrometer if you don't have one already.
     
    JackHorzempa likes this.
  4. VikeMan

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

    My advice is to take 5 minutes and read about it. Here... http://www.howtobrew.com/appendices/appendixA.html

    Without a gravity reading, anything else anyone tells you is speculation.
     
    machalel likes this.
  5. Stratacat2011

    Stratacat2011 Initiate (0) May 26, 2015 Florida

    Everyone, thanks for the advice!
    It does smell like beer, not like the wort did so maybe the yeast did do its job.
    I will stop and pick up a hydrometer tomorrow but that leads me to another question...what should it read?
    The brew is a box type kit "everyday ipa". The only info i have relative to gravity is the 6.8ABV.
     
  6. Stratacat2011

    Stratacat2011 Initiate (0) May 26, 2015 Florida

    And thank you for the hydrometer link! Very informative
     
  7. JackHorzempa

    JackHorzempa Grand Pooh-Bah (3,375) Dec 15, 2005 Pennsylvania
    Society Pooh-Bah

    There is really no way for any of use to know; it is dependent on a number of variables like: fermentability of the wort, yeast strain, etc.

    I can tell you that my IPAs have a final gravity around 1.011 but that means nothing for your beer.

    The 'acid test' for knowing when fermentation is complete is to take a gravity reading and a couple of days later take another gravity reading. If you obtain the same reading then you have reached your final gravity.

    Cheers!
     
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