Sublime8365
Well-Known Member
Ok so I brewed my first IPA on Sunday (5th batch, 3rd AG, 2.5 gal) and I'm not seeing any signs of fermentation. The OG was way lower than expected (1.041 vs 1.056 target, could have been a bad measure but likely due to putting too much water into my mash). I used Safale-05 and sprinkled it onto 70-75 degree wort. The wort was well aerated so I'm fairly certain that isn't the problem. I did shake the bucket to aerate further before the yeast had time to fully settle. I put the bucket in a swamp cooler and the temp dropped to 63-65, and then got down to 59 by the first morning. I think that was my problem. I've since taken the bucket out of the cooler and slowly brought it back up to 70-72 in the last 36 hours. Still no bubbles. still trying not to panic here. Right now my plan is to leave it until tomorrow and if there's still no signs then take a gravity reading and pitch more yeast if necessary (hydrating first this time). Does this sound like a good plan? I already pitched a whole packet onto 2.5 gal, would pitching another be over pitching? Just wondering if i need to stop by my LHBS for more yeast. Is there anything at this point that I could do to jumpstart the fermentation other than pitching more yeast?