Help! 75F beer in fermenter - when should I pitch the yeast?

So, I used my plate chiller today and things didn't go as well as they did last time. I was only able to get my beer to 75F using it. I guess I have to take a look into a pre-chiller or pump but that is for another day.

I have rigged a swamp cooler and placed water bottles in the water to cool it down and the ambient temperature of the basement is 66F. At what point should I pitch the yeast?

Thanks!

I pitch ales at 80 deg F and it eventually cools to the house temp of 74 deg F.

Ideally, you'd pitch in the low 60s and allow the temperature to rise up to your desired fermentation temperature.

Which yeast strain are you using? If it's WLP001 or Wyeast 1056, I'd pitch at 70 probably.

What are you brewing and what yeast is being used?

I am brewing blonde ale and using S-05.
Vienna, Flaked Maize, Pale

How long it can sit before the yeast is added?

Pitch away. The preferred temp range for US-05 is 59F-74F. I personally prefer 61F-65F for the first week but you shouldn't have any problem cooling it down to the mid 60's before the yeast kick into production mode.

scottvin said:

So, I used my plate chiller today and things didn't go as well as they did last time. I was only able to get my beer to 75F using it. I guess I have to take a look into a pre-chiller or pump but that is for another day.

I have rigged a swamp cooler and placed water bottles in the water to cool it down and the ambient temperature of the basement is 66F. At what point should I pitch the yeast?

Thanks!

Click to expand...

I've successfully pitched at 82 degrees with no adverse effects that i could tell. Fermentation started within 8 hours at which point the brew was within ale ferm temps and went strong to completion, i would have to check my notes to see which brew it was, but all except my first one have been good. and the first was only bad due to not fully rinsing chlorine from my equipment. Since then i've used starsan.

pitch it baby, pitch it!

Thanks for the advice. I pitched the yeast about an hour or so after I brewed. I am sure it will turn out great!