24 hours no sign of fermentation?

[swirly_boy]

Hi, I started my first ever batch of homebrew yesterday and i think i have a problem.
I used a beer kit that has been sitting around my house for a long time. I am sure i did evrything right and had evrything perfectly sanitized but its been 24 hours and i still don't have any bubbling in my air lock. I think the Yeast must have been bad but i'm not sure.. can i add another batch of yeast now?
How long should i wait until i am sure that its not fermenting?

 

[rod]

was there a "use by" date on the yeast pack?
was the temp below 80 degrees when you added the yeast?
it can take 24-48 hours for ferment to start depending on a number of factors.
it can't hurt to pitch another pack of dry yeast that is in date for insurance .

 

[swirly_boy]

it was at about 65 degrees when i put the yeast in.......

I don't have any more brewing yeast....does normal cooking yeast work?

I really don't kno anything about yeast....

 

[Yooper]

it was at about 65 degrees when i put the yeast in.......

I don't have any more brewing yeast....does normal cooking yeast work?

I really don't kno anything about yeast....

No, don't add cooking yeast- that's a whole different ballgame! Wait another 24 hours before you worry too much, and try to keep your fermenter at 68 degrees if you can.

 

[Hogsooey]

Not that I know anything as I am new to this, but my second (and current) batch took almost 36 hours to show signs of fermentation. Now, it is fermenting like crazy. Maybe you'll have the same luck.

 

[Orfy]

Be patient. You'll make better beer.

Do some reading and searching there's at least 10 threads a week on "My beer isn't fermenting"
Yeast is a very important part of the beer.

www.howtobrew.com

24 hours is way too early to worry.

 

[knipknup]

I did a lager once and pitched older (not expired) white labs yeast cold, about 45F. After 7 days, it still had not started fermenting. I had it at 45F the whole time. I finally gave in and put a heat pad on the carboy on low. It warmed to 65F and took off. After a day or two at 65F, I turned off the heat and it cooled to 45F and fermented for 32 days. I am now enjoying that badboy with no off flavors that I can detect. Sometimes it just takes patience and creativity and in the end you get beer!

 

[swirly_boy]

thanks for the info......i'll wait a couple more days.....

 

[autoferret]

I'd start to worry after 48hours. But as long as the beer is sealed it should be fine. My IPA that i just made took 48hours to start and when she did she took off!

Relax and have a home brew!

 

[ayrton]

Sooooo many factors can affect lag time with yeast. Aeration, temperature, pitching volumes, etc. can all help or hurt the delay in fermentation. I wouldn't even consider re-pitching until 72 hours or so. And don't use baking yeast.

Also, this sounds stupid, but MAKE SURE your seal on your carboy/bucket is good and that you have a sufficient amount of water in your airlock. In the future, try making a yeast starter to ensure your yeast is good before you pitch it.

 

[swirly_boy]

48 hours and i have some signs of fermentation! My airlock is bubbling a couple times evry five minutes....looks like its starting to kick off! thanks for the help...next time i think i will try making a starter first...

 

[Orfy]

Or just be patient!