Adding A Couple Vials

[ibemopar]

Hey guys... So I brewed an imperial stout about 5 days ago that had way more OG then anticipated. I was shooting for 1.098 but ended up with 1.120 (due to refractometer issues, which I will be posting about in another thread). I used a yeast starter for the initial pitch but that amount was only for the 1.098.. Now Im thinking of adding 2 more vials to help those little critters out.. What do you think? Is this going to be a problem? Are they going to eat each other and give off flavors?

[trouble brewin]

At this point, I wouldn't bother adding any more yeast, unless your fermentation has stalled. Any issues that may arise from underpitching would have occurred several days ago during the yeast growth phase.

[ibemopar]

Well the fermentation never really took off.. It had some small amounts of bubbling but i havent noticed much action.. I plan on taking a reading tonight and seeing where its at...If its not near my FG should I throw more in? Its is significantly underpitched, will alllowing more time cure that or is pitching a vial or two an option?

[trouble brewin]

If you need to repitch, make another starter and pitch at high krausen.

[spiderwrangler]

Did you do anything to aerate? That may be a bigger issue in getting them to take off if you did not.

[ibemopar]

Did you do anything to aerate? That may be a bigger issue in getting them to take off if you did not.

I did my typical shake the crap out of the fermenter method but I guess it may not have been enough given the high gravity.
My starter was 1.6 liters with 2 vials. I just dont think that is enough for this high OG.

What are some of the concerns with pitching another vial? Why should I make a starter? Is it just to get the yeast active and happy?

[spiderwrangler]

2 vials in 1.6 L won't give you all that much growth, so your initial yeast numbers wouldn't be much beyond the 200bil from your starters...