Fermentation has not started after 18 hours

[Brewer88]

Fortunately it the altbier started fermenting over night. It is slowly picking up pace to, so I think I am out of the woods. The temperature I am fermenting at is about 70. I didn't use a starter or anything with the yeast, but I do pull out a few cups of wort after I have chilled it down to ~70 degrees, and I pitch the yeast in that to get it started. I let it sit for 10 minutes or so and than I pitch the solution in the fermenter with the rest of the wort.

Thanks for all your help everyone. Cheers!

[alan_marks]

Doesn't Fermentis recomend against rehydrating into wort? In fact, if memory serves I recall their recomendation is to rehydrate in plain water to reactivate the yeast. I will have to review the Brew Strong episode on yeast but I seem to recall the reason for rehydating with water was that it allows the yeast to reactivate and not stress. Not sure why, I always rehydrate in half a cup of filtered water (120 ml water to 11.5 g yeast, 10:1 ratio) that I heat to 90 to 100F to get them warm and happy. I let it cool to room temp before pitching into 70F wort. Usually gets going with a bubbly airlock in 5 hours.

Alan

[atomicpunk]

Definately sounds like you are not treating your yeast properly. Follow what "the man" says.

http://www.howtobrew.com/section1/chapter6-5.html

[Brewer88]

The fermentation started a couple of days ago, and has been going strong since. I appreciate all the help, and quick replies.
Cheers

[Cliff]

, if memory serves I recall their recomendation is to rehydrate in plain water to reactivate the yeast.

Yes. I've read that it's best not to give the yeast anything when rehydrating them but clean water because the cell walls are overly permeable when dehydrated and you might shock them with sugars or wort or whatever. So let 'em tale a little bath for a few minutes and then start adding the wort to the slurry.