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Joneszen · 08-05-2012, 02:27 PM

Hello, this is my first actual post on hbt. I need some advice or guidance from you fellow home brewers.

I made a batch of German style dark last night. It was a kit, and everything was textbook up until I transferred the wort into a carboy. First issue was temp, I used a copper wort chiller to cool it. I thought my temp was around 80 degrees but when I transferred it to carboy it was coming in at 90. I really wanted it to cool down before I pitched my yeast for maximum environment.

I covered it with a sanitized towel and let it sit and cool down for about 30 minutes. It still was between 70 and 80 degrees after 30 but I needed to go to sleep so I went ahead and pitched it.

This morning I woke up and ran down to the basement to find my wort not active yet. So my question is did I screw it up by pitching out of the comfort zone?

My other issues are my yeast, I did not make a starter. I have in the past but thought that two vials of white labs would be enough. One of the vials expired in may, I figured I would use it since it was the same strain and it would only add more yeast to production. I do not know if I am going to have a slow start or not and that is really starting to bug me.

How long should I wait before I intervene with the current setup?

This is what I used,

True brew extract kit
plus I added
1# black malt
1# chocolate malt
1# dme

my OG was 1.06
I used 2 White Labs Abbey yeast vials.

I pitched around 0130 and it is now 0929 with no visible activity yet what should I do?

ChessRockwell · 08-05-2012, 02:39 PM

Just give it more time

Pitching lower would have been better but it didn't kill your yeast. As long as the other vile wasn't expired you should have enough healthy yeast in there.

**ron,ar** · 08-05-2012, 02:40 PM

Wait, I think you are worrying for no reason, give it time. I think the temps were ok but don't use lquid yeast much. Others will chime in with good advice but I think it's too early too worry.

Hops4life · 08-05-2012, 02:41 PM

RDWHAHB..... Active may not show up for 2r hours or more. As was already said just give it time.

**Pappers_** · 08-05-2012, 02:42 PM

You're fine. If you pitched mid-70s, your yeast are fine. As for the lag time, don't fret. Its not unusual for it to take 24 -48 hours, sometimes more, to see visible signs of fermentation. The yeast are already busy, you just can't see it.

Pitching two vials is fine. It may have been a little under pitched compared to the optimum, but nothing to worry about.

Joneszen · 08-05-2012, 03:57 PM

I have never had problems with lag, so I guess I am just over reacting. I had a schedule and I guess the beer has its own schedule go figure!

ThreeSheetsBrewing · 08-05-2012, 04:34 PM

In my experience White Lab yeast straight from the vial show a good amount of lag time. Be patient and give it more time, your temps are o.k.

Joneszen · 08-05-2012, 10:50 PM

OK so the wort is completely still, which is a first for me. At this point there is usually some kind of movement in the wort. If I re-pitch will it mess everything up since it will be a different yeast?

ThreeSheetsBrewing · 08-05-2012, 10:55 PM

How long has it been since you pitched?

ChessRockwell · 08-05-2012, 10:56 PM

So how long has it been now, about 16 hours? I'd still give it more time... at least overnight