Do I need more yeast?

[jeciv]

I brewed a double IPA yesterday. Had a yeast starter prepared Monday. Once I filled my fermentation bucket and put the yeast in, I realized the bucket was too full, so I poured some back out. My concern is that it is not bubbling very much and my question is should I add more yeast? What are the risks of adding more yeast? How much is too much yeast?

Thanks in advance!

 

[djonas]

What was the original gravity of the brew?

Personally, I don't think you need to worry too much. I have seriously under-pitched some batches without ill effects; the bubbling ought to pick up later as the yeast multiplies and even if it doesn't, it's not a very reliable measure of yeast activity. Just give it time and check the gravity in a week or so.

I was told that it is sort of hard to over-pitch yeast. At times, after racking a beer out of the primary fermenter, I'll just dump a brand new beer onto the leftover yeast cake. The beers come out just peachy. You can imagine how many cells are in a leftover cake!

Oh, and you stated that the problem was that you initially overfilled the fermenter. Wouldn't that happen again if you add more yeast?

 

[jeciv]

i didn't take the gravity...i should probably start doing that!

i also didn't oxygenate very well...that could be why it's off to a slow start too.

there is room to add another vial of yeast. would i just dump a new vial in?

 

[lumpher]

you need some headspace for fermentation to happen and not have a blowout. in a 5g carboy, you should have 4-5 inches at the top empty. let fermentation happen now, though

 

[lschiavo]

I doubt you need more yeast. Just quit looking at it.

 

[onipar]

I doubt you need more yeast. Just quit looking at it.

Haha, yeah, this is a death sentence (constantly looking at it). I pitched on Sunday, and by Monday the airlock was frothing away.

It got really hot the past couple days so I did a swamp cooler and I noticed that the airlock today is nearly inactive. Part of me want s to start worrying that I dropped the temp too low or stalled the fermentation, but the other part (the part that's been reading these forums for the past month) said, "Quiet down, sir. Relax, don't worry, have a homebrew."

So I did. I'll check it out in a couple weeks, take a reading, figure it out from there.

Maybe you should do the same. Let it play out. If gravity isn't where it should be after a couple weeks, take it from there.

 

[unionrdr]

How big is your bucket,& how much did you put in?

 

[lschiavo]

Haha, yeah, this is a death sentence (constantly looking at it). I pitched on Sunday, and by Monday the airlock was frothing away.

It got really hot the past couple days so I did a swamp cooler and I noticed that the airlock today is nearly inactive. Part of me want s to start worrying that I dropped the temp too low or stalled the fermentation, but the other part (the part that's been reading these forums for the past month) said, "Quiet down, sir. Relax, don't worry, have a homebrew."

So I did. I'll check it out in a couple weeks, take a reading, figure it out from there.

Maybe you should do the same. Let it play out. If gravity isn't where it should be after a couple weeks, take it from there.

I know it's tough to leave them alone. I peek at my fermenters a lot. I never mess with them besides a blowoff if necessary. The yeast seem to know what to do on there own.

 

[jeciv]

Thanks everyone!!!

 

[Hernando]

I doubt you need more yeast. Just quit looking at it.

Yeah this is the hardest thing to do when we are new and starting out. It's like telling a midget to grow.