Slow starting lager yeast

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jklotz

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I'm brewing an AHS California Common ale kit. Kit came with SafLager S23 lager yeast. 16 hours in, I'm seeing almost no airlock activity. Is this a slow starting yeast? I usually get tons of activity 16 hours in with my ale yeast? I pitched on top of the foam (from aerating) - is it time to go in a give it a good stir or should I just leave it alone?
 
Oh, and I pitched it dry with no starter. Temp is a constant 66 deg. OG was 1.055 (despite the recipe calling for 1.045). It was an extract kit with 1/2 and 1/2 LME and DME.
 
I've never used that yeast- but I have made a ton of lagers and steam beers with other yeast strains.

First, DON'T stir it- just leave it alone. Secondly, lager yeast are bottom fermenting (ale yeasts are top fermenting) so you may or may not see a krausen.

In three days, if you don't see any activity you may need to do something. But until then, it's best to just wait it out.
 
You likely underpitched, a beer of that size with that yeast would require 2 packets. I used a single pack once and it took a week before fermentation took off and the diacetyl never did clear up.
 

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