no fermentation after 4 days
Posted: Fri Sep 07, 2012 4:53 pm
by zac.evans
I brewed a baltic porter on monday afternoon. I started my yeast starter that morning. I chlled the wort to 44° and pitched first thing tuesday morning. It is now Friday evening and the air lock is not bubbling. I checked the gravity and it is still at OG. Below are some details. What should i do now?
OG 1.080
2 vials of wlp830 german lager with 1 gallon starter on a stir plate.
Fermenting at 53°
Help please?
Re: no fermentation after 4 days
Posted: Fri Sep 07, 2012 9:14 pm
by spiderwrangler
What temp was your starter? Are you sure you see NO signs of ferment, and it's not just going slowly?
Re: no fermentation after 4 days
Posted: Fri Sep 07, 2012 9:46 pm
by BDawg
bucket fermenters are notorious for leaking CO2 out through the lid, causing the airlock to not bubble at all.
Re: no fermentation after 4 days
Posted: Sat Sep 08, 2012 4:05 am
by zac.evans
The starter was done at room temp. 72°. I do not see anything happening. This is my first go with lager yeast. My started did not look like it did anything either but i just assumed it was because it wasva lager yeast. I know that it is rare to get a bad vial of yeast bit 2 of them? I.am not thinking so.
Re: no fermentation after 4 days
Posted: Sat Sep 08, 2012 4:55 am
by Kaiser
How long did you let the starter go. Even with lager test you should see some activity in the starter.
do you have emergency dry yeast you can use?
Kai
Re: no fermentation after 4 days
Posted: Sat Sep 08, 2012 5:08 am
by EL TIZZO
if your starter was at 72 and your wort was at 44 you have temperature shocked the yeast...I chill and decant my starter a day or two prior to pitching and it can still take over 24 hours to get going...this way the wort and starter are at the same temp...i would make a new starter and hope it stays clean till its ready...good luck
Cheers!
Re: no fermentation after 4 days
Posted: Sat Sep 08, 2012 5:46 am
by zac.evans
My yeast starter went for about 24 hours. I chilled to 44° decant and pitched. I did not shock my yeast. I am going to get some dry yeast today.
I have raised the temp to 60° now just to see if i can see any kind of activity. If i dont see anything by the end of day i will repitch. Thoughts??
Re: no fermentation after 4 days
Posted: Sat Sep 08, 2012 7:05 am
by Kaiser
Do you have the ability to test pH of the beer? I have used the pH drop at the beginning of fermentation add a sign that there is activity when some of my batches took longer than expected to take off.
But with 2 vials in 1 gal you sound have seen some activity in the starter. I think your yeast was dead.
Kai