Biermann

Recipes 

Ok, had to vent some frustration--

I brewed yesterday (made an all grain robust porter). The brew day went as near perfect as I could make it (first all indoor batch on the upgraded sculpture).


I made the starter over 24 hours in advance (Propagator pack London Ale III from Wyeast)-- well, it never really took off. It never even came close to hitting "high krauesen," and even at that, there was almost no yeast on the bottom-- and then I read the package and it said something to the effect that after making a starter, it would be enough pitchable cells for five gallons (mine was 10 gallons). So, by the time the beer was in the fermenter, I had a quandry. Grossly underpitch with my lackluster London III, or use some harvested WL English Ale that I had in my fridge for the past 2 months.

I went with the English Ale yeast I had in storage. I figured there was more viable yeast there per mL than in my starter, even if they were dormant. I also thought about pitching the London III in addition, but I figured that might be a little weird.

So, now I'm sitting here, and waiting for my fermenter to bubble. The starter doesn't even bubble now, and has cleared.


Anyone else run across this problem with the Wyeast Propagator packs?? This was the first time I'd ever used it.

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On Draft: Old, Stale, Oxidized beer


Holding tanks:Sold
Conical #1:Sold
Bottles: Nichts
On Deck:

GoatFarmersInternational

Recipes 

Never heard of a propagator pack, what is it like? I love my Wyeast, though, and usually keep the little fellows for a couple of generations (and have always had more a vigorous fermentation and better tasting beers than with WL, IMHO).... Not much help, sorry... But I'm sure it will turn out fine, don't worry.....

Biermann

Recipes 

Well, I didn't realize it was a propagator-- I just thought it was a new packaging for the Activator. It seems that the propagator is a much smaller cell count, and you HAVE to make a starter, even for 5 gallons. Its all my LHBS carries now. So it was essentially worthless for me. I think I'm going to make another starter and dump the first into it, and get the counts up.

I just hope the fermentation starts soon. I get nervous anymore if it doesn't start within 24 hours.

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On Draft: Old, Stale, Oxidized beer


Holding tanks:Sold
Conical #1:Sold
Bottles: Nichts
On Deck:

Biermann

Recipes 

I think I'll go to the LHBS today and pick up some more English Ale yeast, and pitch it anyway. It still wasn't going this AM.

__________________
--------------------------------------------------------
On Draft: Old, Stale, Oxidized beer


Holding tanks:Sold
Conical #1:Sold
Bottles: Nichts
On Deck:

EdWort

Recipes 

Bummer. I feel your pain. I'm trying to propagate some WL029 Kolsch yeast. The stuff is kind of thick. I'm hoping to build it up to split 3 ways, 1 for a batch tomorrow and two to save in 22 oz. Corona bottles.

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Cheers,

EdWort

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Biermann

Recipes 

WEll, I went and picked up some extra WL English Ale yeast, and when I got home, the fermenter was finally bubbling.

Go figure.

I do believe I'm going to decant the supernatant off the yeast in the London III, and make a new starter. Maybe I'll use it for an ESB or something.

__________________
--------------------------------------------------------
On Draft: Old, Stale, Oxidized beer


Holding tanks:Sold
Conical #1:Sold
Bottles: Nichts
On Deck:

Tony

Recipes 

See, ya gotta threaten it! Glad it started for you.

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Dead Soldier:Hop Rod Rye Stout
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