Aeration/Yeast starter

mcmah193 · October 3, 2012, 10:49pm

I currently have the Winter Warmer sitting in the primary, and I pitched the Wyeast 1728 on Sept. 27th. I took an OG reading of 1071 as well. The problem I have is that the yeast did not start fermenting the beer. Everything is settled in the primary with no bubbling or anything. I called NB and they shipped me another yeast packet, which I currently have sitting in the 1000 mL yeast starter flask propagating wonderfully. My question is do I aerate the wort in the primary again before I pitch the yeast? Or is this unnecessary? Thanks for the help fellow brewers.

-Cheers!

loopie_beer · October 3, 2012, 11:35pm

I would as it certainly wouldn’t hurt and you have to slosh it around anyways to mix up the yeast.

shadetree · October 4, 2012, 12:47am

You’re at six days from pitching with no fermentation? Have you checked the gravity to be sure?

mcmah193 · October 4, 2012, 1:33am

I have not checked the gravity, only before I pitched the yeast. There has been absolutely no signs of fermentation since I pitched the yeast. I would assume that if it was fermenting, I would see bubbles and an increased head on the primary. However, there is no condensation in the lock and absolutely no activity in the beer itself.

mcmah193 · October 4, 2012, 2:13am

I just pitched the Wyeast 1728 using a 1000 mL yeast starter. Hopefully it will be going crazy tomorrow morning. Thanks for the input and advice fellas.

beerginer · October 4, 2012, 1:44pm

Did the first pack of yeast swell up after you popped the nutrient pack?

mcmah193 · October 4, 2012, 4:52pm

Yes it did. Although, I think I know what might have happened. When I sanitized the equipment and yeast pack, I used hot water, so perhaps the yeast packet got too warm and killed off the yeast. That’s the only thing I can think of that could have messed up the batch. This morning I checked the primary and saw no difference after pitching. I’ll most likely have to get another kit.

denny · October 4, 2012, 5:04pm

If you don’t check the gravity you really don’t know what’s going on.

mcmah193 · October 4, 2012, 11:04pm

Do I check the gravity after another week or so? So far the primary is developing patches of white foam/build up on the top of the beer. This is first time using a hydrometer so I apologize for so many questions.

loopie_beer · October 5, 2012, 1:05am

Sounds like it’s finally fermenting. Check the gravity after it stops bubbling. If you are doing just a primary you can wait and check it after 3 weeks. It should definitely be done by then and you can bottle/keg.