So I messed up

So I brewed a BIG beer, and it was my first brew in awhile. At 3 days in there is almost no activity, there was a little bit the next morning and it was going good day2, but almost none now. In hindsight I should have double pitched or made a starter but I didn't. Should I make a starter and add it to it now?

What kind of big beer are we talking here? What was your OG and your current SG? What type of yeast?

You definitely need more yeast. Like a lot more. I'd pitch onto a yeast cake if you could.

I had the same issue with a high gravity IPA. Luckily i had some washed yeast in the fridge that i "woke up" and pitched. Fermentation took off in less than 2 hours after that. I guess i would say, yes, pitch a little more, or make a small starter.

High Gravity IPA. No yeast available so I guess its starter time with extra yeast. No OG/SG as the hydrometer has gone awal Moving Sucks

Oh, I used safale 05

I would go ahead and re-pitch... if you are using s05 again, re-hydrate first.

Yea, I hydrated it the first time and it seemed to be good at the time but.... yea....

I learned this same lesson the hard way. Now i keep a few lbs of DME around just in case....and i wash my yeast for future batches.

I'm thinking I may not have aerated enough for such a big beer. Is it unwise to put my aquarium stone in the carboy for a little while before I pitch the starter i am making tonight?

Grahambo said:

I'm thinking I may not have aerated enough for such a big beer. Is it unwise to put my aquarium stone in the carboy for a little while before I pitch the starter i am making tonight?

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If it hasn't fermented yet that would be a good idea.

Grahambo said:

I'm thinking I may not have aerated enough for such a big beer. Is it unwise to put my aquarium stone in the carboy for a little while before I pitch the starter i am making tonight?

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That would be a bad idea. You've already made beer, you're just not sure how far along it is.

there was a little bit the next morning and it was going good day2, but almost none now

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What are you judging the "activity" upon?

Without a hydrometer reading, you're shooting in the dark.

Aeration and making an adequate starter are somewhat at odds. I would probably say, given you have good sanitation, make a good starter and dump that in and maybe shake a bit. An aeration at this point might just pre-dispose to an infection.

There was some fermentation, it started building krausen and was chugging then both stopped. Starter is building now. finger are crossed

It's alright to airlock the starters right? I have them in 1 gal jugs

Just cover the container tightly with foil. Swish it around every 20-30 mins if you can. Added O2 helps increase yeast activity.

Grahambo said:

There was some fermentation, it started building krausen and was chugging then both stopped. Starter is building now. finger are crossed

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How do you know it stopped? Maybe it did, maybe it didn't, maybe it was done? Did you use your hydrometer to tell what it did? Maybe the best thing for this beer is to leave it alone for a while. If you rely on your airlock, you are making a mistake.

Grahambo said:

There was some fermentation, it started building krausen and was chugging then both stopped. Starter is building now. finger are crossed

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I apologize. I thought there had been no activity when I told you to aerate. If it has fermented (even if not fully) do not aerate your beer.