Brewing my first batch today

[scottmc]

Like the title says, IM hoping to make my first batch of beer today. IM gonna be making Weihenstephaner a clone of that fine tasting wheat beer. My question is after I add my liquid yeast do I stir the yeast into the wort, or just let it do its job by settling. So to stir or not to stir? Wish me luck.

 

[the_bird]

No need to stir at that point, the yeast will find its way to the goodies.

 

[Brewno]

The yeast could benefit from aeration though. I picked up my fermenter and shook the hell out of it for a minute or so and repeated that two or three times.
Just make sure you wort cools before you pitch, I think I made that mistake on my first batch.....it still came out good though

Tommy

 

[scottmc]

Thanks for the replys.

 

[desiderata]

From what i understand, ale yeast is top fermenting (as opposed to lager yeast, which is bottom fermenting). So, as the bird pointed out, stirring shouldn't be necessary. But, IMO, it couldn't do any harm, as long as you are careful about sanitizing the stirrer. With my first batch, I used some dry yeast pitched on top. I later thought i may have made a mistake for not stirring, but it fermented just fine. I don't think liquid yeast should be any different, since it is ale yeast just the same.

 

[Brewno]

Just to clarify, I shook my cooled wort before pitching the yeast, then pitched into the aerated wort. I'm not sure if it makes a difference but I'm sure one of the more experienced here can answer that.
For my first batch I didn't aerate at all (didn't know) but got a bubbling airlock in 6 hours anyway.
I know some people spend some cash on aeration devices though.

Tommy