Not fermenting!!!

mjwj12 · Mar 10, 2014

I made an concoction with some ingredients on sat night and it's been two days and nothing has happened. I made pretty much 6 gallons with everything here. Idk what I should do now. Please help.

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nsrooen · Mar 10, 2014

If you have had no fermentation activity guessing the yeast was old or you added without the wort cooling down to pitching temperature. Without knowing your procedure this is just a wild guess.

My advice - Get another packet of dry yeast and re-pitch.

mjwj12 · Mar 10, 2014

I have a pack of wyeast ready to go. And I did let it get below 80 with my wort chiller. Should I give it another day?

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nsrooen · Mar 10, 2014

mjwj12 said:
I have a pack of wyeast ready to go. And I did let it get below 80 with my wort chiller. Should I give it another day?

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If it has truly been over 48 hours with no activity at all then yes I would re-pitch. (an airlock is not an indication by the way). Not sure if you are fermenting in a bucket or glass. If glass you would see movement / krausen on the surface.

Your fermentation temperature could also be a factor. (should be around 65 to 70 degrees)

The yeast you have pictured is usually a quick starter and fast fermenter.

boydster · Mar 10, 2014

What was your OG? How old was the yeast? Hydrated or not?

Rockn_M · Mar 10, 2014

The only way to really know if you have no fermentation is with a hydrometer. If you don't have a hydrometer I strongly urge you pick one up.

mjwj12 · Mar 10, 2014

My og was 1.044. The yeast isn't old unless Midwest is selling old yeast now. It is in a plastic bucket becuase I decided to do 6 gallons. The room temp stays between 68 and 72. I do have an airlock on it right now becuase I have enough room that I don't need a blow off.

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mjwj12 · Mar 10, 2014

Rockn_M said:
The only way to really know if you have no fermentation is with a hydrometer. If you don't have a hydrometer I strongly urge you pick one up.

I do have a hydrometer but i don't want to open it again.

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mjwj12 · Mar 10, 2014

boydster said:
What was your OG? How old was the yeast? Hydrated or not?

Not hydrated.

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atom · Mar 10, 2014

mjwj12 said:
I do have a hydrometer but i don't want to open it again.

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but you would have to open it to repitch...

boydster · Mar 10, 2014

Do you have krausen? If you are using a bucket, the airlock might not bubble because sometimes CO2 escapes out around the lid, so don't use that as a judge of fermentation activity. Check for krausen. If you see any, or if you see a ring where there used to be krausen around the bucket, you're all set. If not, take a gravity reading and see if it has changed. If so, you're all set. If not, make a starter with the liquid yeast you have and pitch it at high krausen - that'll definitely get things going.

Rockn_M · Mar 10, 2014

Your not going to hurt anything buy removing the lid carefully and doing a quick check. If the gravity has decrease then you have fermentation. If it has remained at 1.044 then you'll need to pitch some more yeast.

mjwj12 · Mar 10, 2014

atom said:
but you would have to open it to repitch...

I'm not sure what you meant...?

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mjwj12 · Mar 10, 2014

boydster said:
Do you have krausen? If you are using a bucket, the airlock might not bubble because sometimes CO2 escapes out around the lid, so don't use that as a judge of fermentation activity. Check for krausen. If you see any, or if you see a ring where there used to be krausen around the bucket, you're all set. If not, take a gravity reading and see if it has changed. If so, you're all set. If not, make a starter with the liquid yeast you have and pitch it at high krausen - that'll definitely get things going.

ImageUploadedByHome Brew1394484143.143724.jpg

here is what I'm using. And yes it's my bottling bucket. I'm going to transfer it to a secondary after so many days.

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boydster · Mar 10, 2014

You're going to have to open 'er up and take a look. Check for krausen or a krausen ring around the bucket. Check the gravity. See what's going on. Looking at the outside of your bucket won't help us figure this one out

mjwj12 · Mar 10, 2014

I took off the lid real fast and maybe I'm mistaking?? It looks like it doing something!

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boydster · Mar 10, 2014

You got fermentation. Now replace the lid, then sit back, relax, and have a home brew friend. :mug:

nsrooen · Mar 10, 2014

mjwj12 said:
I took off the lid real fast and maybe I'm mistaking?? It looks like it doing something!View attachment 184991

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You are fine the yeast is doing its thing....

insanim8er · Mar 10, 2014

buckets leak air. That' why it's never a good idea to relay on the air lock.

mjwj12 · Mar 10, 2014

Thanks everyone! I'm letting my imagination get the best of me!!!!

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Rockn_M · Mar 10, 2014

Looks good.

Not fermenting!!!

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