On my 2nd brew. I accidentally put in 2 tablespoons or gypsum during the heat up of the boil (instead of 1 teaspoon). So the water hardness is probably through the roof. Second, I got the stock pot in the tub to try to cool it down after the boil. I only got it down to about 130 before I pitched the yeast. I now know I should've waited until the wort was down to around 70 before adding the yeast. The wort is now down to 72 degrees. No airlock activity, and no crud on top when I looked in the fermenter (20 hours later). I stirred it with a sanitized spoon to see if I couldn't get it going. Nothing yet.
I did aerate the wort before adding the yeast. It was a dry yeast that came with the ingredients kit. The yeast expiration date was 5/2005 I rehydrated exactly as the directions required.
My questions are:
1) Could the gypsum ruin the batch?
2) Could the yeast be dead from the high temp
3) If the answer to #1 is no, and #2 is yes, should I try to add new yeast... and how long after you boil can you add new yeast? I've seen posts that say they boiled 6 days ago, and people are saying the need to add new yeast if no fermentation is happening.
I really try to educate myself on new hobbies before I dive in; but, in brewing, it seems like there are so many variables involved... it's frustrating. I guess there are no facile solutions when you are a newbie!
I did aerate the wort before adding the yeast. It was a dry yeast that came with the ingredients kit. The yeast expiration date was 5/2005 I rehydrated exactly as the directions required.
My questions are:
1) Could the gypsum ruin the batch?
2) Could the yeast be dead from the high temp
3) If the answer to #1 is no, and #2 is yes, should I try to add new yeast... and how long after you boil can you add new yeast? I've seen posts that say they boiled 6 days ago, and people are saying the need to add new yeast if no fermentation is happening.
I really try to educate myself on new hobbies before I dive in; but, in brewing, it seems like there are so many variables involved... it's frustrating. I guess there are no facile solutions when you are a newbie!