Gordolordo

Recipes 

That's what I had been doing wrong with my batch. When I first put my beer into the primary fermenter I quick, poured it in, and then closed it up with not much headspace. Apparently, there was not enough air in the bucket for the yeast to grow.

Once I transferred the batch into the secondary, it was aerated and is bubbling all over again now.

Janx

Recipes 

The airspace in the bucket really isn't an issue. You need space in the bucket to prevent blowoffs, but that's it.

For yeast, the only issue is the amount of dissolved oxygen in solution. So they could do fine with zero headspace in the fermenter. It's all about how well you aerate the wort. Cheers!

__________________
Oh don't give me none more of that Old Janx Spirit
No, don't you give me none more of that Old Janx Spirit
For my head will fly, my tongue will lie, my eyes will fry and I may die
Won't you pour me one more of that sinful Old Janx Spirit

busmanray

Recipes 

i use liquid yeast and it doesnt start fermenting for at least 24 to 36 hours after pitching the yeast.if nothing happens after 36 hours try mixing the wert with a sanitized racking spoon,wait 24 to 36 hours again.if nothing happens you will have to repitch with new yeast.

Janx

Recipes 

You need to make starters busmanray...24-36 hours is too long lag time...the 48-72 hours you're talking about after stirring is WAAAY too long. If you make an appropriate starter, stirring should never be necessary.

__________________
Oh don't give me none more of that Old Janx Spirit
No, don't you give me none more of that Old Janx Spirit
For my head will fly, my tongue will lie, my eyes will fry and I may die
Won't you pour me one more of that sinful Old Janx Spirit

bikebryan

Recipes 

I don't agree with "always" needing to make a starter. It depends on what you are using for yeast.

I've brewed many batches. The first two were at a brewpub, and they were 15 gallon batches. After the wort was pumped into the fermenting vessel, they had you pitch your yeast, which was a packet of dry brewer's yeast, directly into the wort. You then kicked the barrel around for 10 to 15 minutes to aerate. Both times the beer came out perfect.

At home, I really like using they Wyeast 175XL packs. I take them out of the fridge when I wake up the morning I brew; I activate them when I start the burners and by the time I'm ready to pitch the thing is almost ready to burst.

Of course, I guess you could argue that the XL packs have a small package of nutrients in them so you could call that a "starter," just not in the traditional sense.

rightwingnut

Recipes 

I've had "success" without a starter, although it took longer and the beer wasn't that good. I've had success with dry yeast also. I think with a liquid yeast, and a starter, you are more likely to have success, and the end result will be better tasting beer, because it will ferment almost immediately, with a healthy colony of yeast that is raring to go. You may get away with a yeast that starts fermenting in 24-36 hours, but you won't have the cleanest tasting beer. I speak not from many batches of experience, but a few, and what I've heard from others on the subject.

bikebryan

Recipes 

I've had great success using the XL Yeast packs from Wyeast without making a starter. Just smack, wait a couple of hours and pitch. Withing 8 hours the airlock is bubbling away very rapidly. Everybody loves the beer I provide.

To each their own. I really think it depends on what type of yeast you are pitching!

Janx

Recipes 

The Wyeast packs are just like a small starter. It serves the same purpose in terms of getting the yeast to multiply and "wake up". For the 10-12 gallon batches I make, I want more of a starter, but the smack packs are definitely better than nothing.

I honestly think that no matter what yeast or what scenario, you are better off if you make a starter. A shorter lag time and more vigorous ferment *always* makes for better beer. IMHO, using liquid yeast and always making a starter is one of the best things you can do to improve your beer.

__________________
Oh don't give me none more of that Old Janx Spirit
No, don't you give me none more of that Old Janx Spirit
For my head will fly, my tongue will lie, my eyes will fry and I may die
Won't you pour me one more of that sinful Old Janx Spirit