First beer that failed to ferment. Saison using WLP565. What to do?

[linusstick]

I've read some other threads on this Mint figured I'd chime in with my situation. That was my 6th BIAB beer I've done after a decade long break from brewing. It was the first beer where I hit every number I was going for (give or take a smidge). Preboil and OG were spot on. Pitched yeast at around 74. After sitting there for a day and a half I moved it to an upstairs bedroom and wrapped it in a winter coat where it went up to 79 or so. Now it's been sitting at about 76 for 6 days. The second day I was a couple bubbles in the airlock and that was it. I opened the bucket today and saw no krausen at all. Looked the same as it did when I sealed it.
If this makes a difference, I had a hard time keeping my burner lit while it was boiling. I had a good rolling boil for maybe 15 minutes but for most of the time the flame kept going out and I had to relight over and over. Finally it got too much so I put it on my stove top for a half hour (it is a 1.5 gallon batch so I was able to get a decent boil). The hot break never got big enough where I had to stir more than a few times and the cold break (picture) was different looking than i have ever seen. It looked more solid than anything I had done and there was a lot more trub than I've had
My question is do I pitch more yeast or abort? I just swirled the bucket and gave a light few shakes to see if I can get anything started. View attachment ImageUploadedByHome Brew1499137835.885039.jpg

 

[casualbrewer]

Have you checked the gravity?

 

[linusstick]

Have you checked the gravity?

Doing that tonight

 

[jmartie13]

What was the date on your yeast?

 

[linusstick]

What was the date on your yeast?

Don't recall but I always make sure it's fresh. I bought it a week and a half before and kept it in the fridge until brew day.

 

[linusstick]

What was the date on your yeast?

Don't recall but I always make sure it's fresh. I bought it a week and a half before and kept it in the fridge until brew day. I wouldn't have pitched it if it was past the expiration date. I wish the answer was that easy. I'll take a gravity reading tonight and if it hasn't moved maybe move to more drastic measures!

 

[linusstick]

Well I guess I now buy into the whole "if you don't see activity in your airlock it doesn't mean it's not fermenting" thing. I believed that may be the case one in a million times but really not likely. Well I took a gravity reading today and it was at 1.008. Was supposed to be 1.013. Sure it was off but I'm happy to have learned the lesson that I never believed. Bottling next week

 

[morbster]

I believed that may be the case one in a million times but really not likely.

Probably 90% of my beers have had little to no airlock activity. It's probably because my fermenters don't have a super tight seal, but it doesn't bother me. The slightest air gap will make your airlock stop bubbling.