1028 smells

[millsbrew]

I got a wyeast 1028 that smells like cat food. It's 4 months old according to born on date. Did I get a bad batch? It was not puffy and only swelled marginally when it was out for 2.5 hours.

Thanks

 

[andhou27]

I got a wyeast 1028 that smells like cat food. It's 4 months old according to born on date. Did I get a bad batch? It was not puffy and only swelled marginally when it was out for 2.5 hours.

Thanks

Yeast is funky. As long as the packet looked fine and it does its job, it's a good batch. Cheers!

 

[millsbrew]

Doesn't look like it was a good batch to me.

 

[andhou27]

Why do you say that?

 

[millsbrew]

Shouldn't I expect a layer of white yeast at the bottom? Starter went for 13 hours then I turned it off and let it sit for an hour. Looks like just wort to me. The smell isn't as bad though, but I'm guessing the starter helped cut that.

 

[andhou27]

I'd say pitch it. Give it some time, if it doesn't start fermenting then add some dry yeast in there or pitch another liquid starter.

 

[IslandLizard]

Are those pictures your starter? How long has it been in there? There is no visible activity, so far. With most starters I get foam within a couple hours, if it comes out of the fridge it may take a day. With a swollen Wyeast smack pack it starts foaming almost immediately.

Just an observation, but that 1L flask is too small to make a large enough starter for 5 Gallons.

My Belgian Ardennes was a bit tardy too. The smack pack fizzed but did not swell up much at all. Once it was in the starter it perked up and although slower than usual it grew just as large a krausen, and foamed out the top.

I'd say give it some more time and reevaluate. If that smell persists, hmm, not sure what to say.

 

[millsbrew]

Thanks for the help guys. Unfortunately all I can do is pitch and hope for the best. I'll report back with any news.

Missed my mash-out temp and had my first stuck sparge. All in all, a pretty rough brew day.

 

[Beernik]

You want to smell some bad yeast, try 2042 - Danish Lager. It smells like musty pork roast.

Good luck.

 

[andhou27]

Thanks for the help guys. Unfortunately all I can do is pitch and hope for the best. I'll report back with any news.

Missed my mash-out temp and had my first stuck sparge. All in all, a pretty rough brew day.

Something ALWAYS happens on brew day...it can never go as planned.

 

[IslandLizard]

Thanks for the help guys. Unfortunately all I can do is pitch and hope for the best. I'll report back with any news.

Missed my mash-out temp and had my first stuck sparge. All in all, a pretty rough brew day.

Yup, hope for the best. It doesn't look very vital. Count on repitching, soon. Better get another starter ready... or a sachet of dry.

 

[millsbrew]

18 hours and no activity at 68F. Should I go with my emergency packet of US5 or wait for LHBS to open and hope for a better packet of 1028?

Thanks again all.

 

[IslandLizard]

18 hours and no activity at 68F. Should I go with my emergency packet of US5 or wait for LHBS to open and hope for a better packet of 1028?

Thanks again all.

I hope you're not surprised that it does nothing. The signs were there in your starter.

It will take a day at minimum to raise a starter of a new 1028 pack. If your sanitation was impeccable your beer may not spoil.

Windsor or Notty would be closer dry substitutes than US-05, except neither attenuates like 1028. It depends on what beer you're making if that's important.

 

[millsbrew]

Thanks. It was a British IPA. Guess I'll just hope for the best and get 2 yeast packs tonight on my way home.

Edit: and no, I wasn't surprised. Clearly there were no yeast in that packet.

 

[millsbrew]

Well I got home at 8pm (30 hours since pitching) from work and it was fermenting away like mad. no clue how or why. i'm certain in the least i underpitched since my starter never hit krausen, or I have wild yeast working in there. Now back to my original question, buy more yeast?

 

[Beernik]

If it's going, I'd let it be. It has enough yeast population now.

Also, if it's infected, pitching new 1028 isn't going to un-infect it.