Another new brewer question..

[ffmedic]

I've done a few Mr. Beer brews, and bought a "real" kit this week. I went to brew my first recipe, a Coopers Irish Stout HME can 3.5lb, Muntons Dark LME 3.3lbs with 15g Coopers dry yeast (not the stuff under the can lid). Rehydrated the yeast in 100* water for 30min while everything boiled.Everything was sterilized, I boiled it for 30 min, witnessed the hot break. Cooled the pot to 80* then siphoned it into the carboy, (had cool, clean water and the rehydrated yeast inside). Topped it off with water, mixed it up real well, took my OG and put the airlock on. OG was only 1.018. Temp was 72* at this time. This was 36hrs ago. I came home this morning (I'm a fireman that works 24hr shifts), and noticed quite a few bubbles in the airlock but absolutely nothing going on in the carboy. I did notice alot of trub at the bottom of the carboy, however. What could cause such a low OG?

 

[BendBrewer]

Still guessing you didn't mix it well enough. If you put in the fermentables and the right amount of water, trust the OG on the recipe.

100* seems a little hot. I doubt you killed the yeast but they didn't like it all that much. Give it some time and I bet it takes off.

 

[McGarnigle]

It's hard to imagine the airlock bubbling without fermentation. It could have finished the most aggressive part of fermentation but still been pushing out CO2. Do you have a hyrdometer? You should take a reading at some point.

And yes, 1.018 is a bad measurement based on unmixed wort. No big deal.

 

[sjbeerman]

Wait... did you boil the HME?

 

[ffmedic]

Thanks for the responses guys. I'm afraid I may have killed off the yeast (wort too hot) I still have the yeast packet under the can that came with the HME. Should I pitch it or wait? And yes, I did boil the HME (followed the brew shops directions).

 

[BendBrewer]

Thanks for the responses guys. I'm afraid I may have killed off the yeast (wort too hot) I still have the yeast packet under the can that came with the HME. Should I pitch it or wait? And yes, I did boil the HME (followed the brew shops directions).

You should wait. Give it a total of 72 hours before deciding to repitch. Again, I don't think you killed it at 100* but you stressed it out. Give it a little more time.

 

[sjbeerman]

Assuming it is a 5 gal batch, your OG should be around 1.049. I would take another SG reading, if possible.

 

[ffmedic]

I just took another SG reading, 1.018, same as before. Is it possible it's not correct? I'm reading it at the meniscus while it's floating in the center of the test tube.

 

[BendBrewer]

Without active fermentation your thicker wort is sitting on the bottom right now. The fermentation will mix it up once it starts going. Wouldn't hurt to give it a good swirl as your yeast is probably sitting in the light gravity section. But once it starts, it should take care of mixing it all up and evening everything out. If you put the sugars in, they are still there somewhere.

 

[ffmedic]

Thank you, I'll give it a good swirl and wait until 72hrs and go from there.

 

[ShakerD]

86 - 92 degrees is the recommended rehydration temperature for Nottingham and Windsor. I have done it before at 100

I'm sure your yeast is fine

As far as your OG reading you probably just got a bad reading so....

RDWHAHB

 

[ffmedic]

I didn't understand that saying at first, but I definitley do now

 

[ffmedic]

Update: came home this evening after dinner, and it's bubbling away. Thanks for the help everyone!