Hey all -
I am an inexperienced brewer with a grand total of 2 extract brews under my belt thus far. Both were Midwest kits - Irish Red and a wheat (currently finishing fermentation). Both used dry yeast.
I will be doing a stout next (also from Midwest) and this will be a partial mash. I wanted to try liquid yeast this time and got the White Labs (WLP004) that was recommended with the kit. I haven't been able to brew this as of yet but I have kept the yeast vial in the refrigerator. It was in the fridge for about 2 months and is currently still within the "Best Before" date of Oct 14, 2012.
Yesterday, I wanted to make a starter and mixed 1/2 cup of DME into 2 pints of water. Boiled and cooled. I warmed the yeast vial for about 3 hours, shaking intermittently, and pitched when the wort was cooled. Two mistakes at this point - 1) I failed to sanitize the glass container I was using but it was clean at least. 2) I failed to shake / aerate the cooled wort before pitching. Can't do anything about the first but I have been frequently swirling the glass container in hopes of getting some aeration.
It has been a full 24 hours and I have seen nary a bubble or foam forming in the starter. I can't tell if there is any activity. There may be (very questionable) more sediment in the bottom, but I guess I wouldn't expect growth without seeing outward signs of it.
Is there anything that is recommended at this point. I am hesitant to pitch this into anything other than the kitchen sink.
Any thoughts would be appreciated.
I am an inexperienced brewer with a grand total of 2 extract brews under my belt thus far. Both were Midwest kits - Irish Red and a wheat (currently finishing fermentation). Both used dry yeast.
I will be doing a stout next (also from Midwest) and this will be a partial mash. I wanted to try liquid yeast this time and got the White Labs (WLP004) that was recommended with the kit. I haven't been able to brew this as of yet but I have kept the yeast vial in the refrigerator. It was in the fridge for about 2 months and is currently still within the "Best Before" date of Oct 14, 2012.
Yesterday, I wanted to make a starter and mixed 1/2 cup of DME into 2 pints of water. Boiled and cooled. I warmed the yeast vial for about 3 hours, shaking intermittently, and pitched when the wort was cooled. Two mistakes at this point - 1) I failed to sanitize the glass container I was using but it was clean at least. 2) I failed to shake / aerate the cooled wort before pitching. Can't do anything about the first but I have been frequently swirling the glass container in hopes of getting some aeration.
It has been a full 24 hours and I have seen nary a bubble or foam forming in the starter. I can't tell if there is any activity. There may be (very questionable) more sediment in the bottom, but I guess I wouldn't expect growth without seeing outward signs of it.
Is there anything that is recommended at this point. I am hesitant to pitch this into anything other than the kitchen sink.
Any thoughts would be appreciated.