Did I kill my yeast by rehydrating it with hot water?

Hi all!

I brewed a batch of double chocolate stout. It came with a pack of dry yeast, which I wanted to rehydrate. I poured a cup of cold water from the tap in the bowl with yeast, and then realized the instructions said "around 90F".

This is where I must have been asleep, as I poured in another cup of water straight from the water heater. It must have been near BOILING. I realized my mistake 30 secs later and added more cold water to bring it back down.

10 mins later I threw it all in the bucket.

It has been 72 hours and there is still zero bubbling in the airlock. Here is a picture of the beer: http://i.imgur.com/foduyB7.jpg I did not take gravity readings.

Did I burn and kill my yeast and should I repitch?

Sounds like you'll have to repitch. I'd say the yeast are dead.

That looks like Kraisen scum on the side of the bucket and the foam looks like post fermentation spooge. Take a gravity reading and report back. I'm guessing you're about 80% through primary.

Ravenshead said:

That looks like Kraisen scum on the side of the bucket and the foam looks like post fermentation spooge. Take a gravity reading and report back. I'm guessing you're about 80% through primary.

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OK, thanks for forcing me to take my very first gravity reading.

The recipe says OG 1.056 and FG 1.012. It is currently at about 1.016.

Also, I saw a ton of little bubbles when I opened up the bucket. It looked like 5 little fish farts per second.

Is this good news?

It's almost done fermenting. Leave it alone for at least another week.

If you see a krausen ring around your fermentor you did not kill all of your yeast. Period. It is a clear sign that there has been an active fermentation. Bucket lids can leak and fermentation can occur without any bubbling in the airlock. A double chocolate stout? I would leave it in the fermentor for at least two more weeks. Just put the lid on and ignore it.

You might have not had a good seal on your bucket lid allowing gasses to eascape which would make the airlock not bubble. RDWHAHB.

Thanks guys, I feel a lot better now. Will keep you posted on the final result!

chumpsteak said:

It's almost done fermenting. Leave it alone for at least another week.

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This ^^^

Besides the seal on your bucket, you may have just a little too little fluid in your airlock if its a 3 piece. I've done that once and didn't see it rise and fall.