Dry yeast floating on top of wort in carboy?

[mrorange38]

Hey all,

Trying to get back into some basic homebrewing again. I bought one of those plastic "water bottle" carboys as an upgrade from my old plastic bucket which was wearing out.

It was a bit challenging to cool the wort without a chiller and the narrow opening on the carboy, but I managed since I made a simple cooper's IPA kit, and did not boil based on some advice I was reading here on the forum.

Well, I noticed that because it's difficult to stir in the carboy, that some of the dry yeast I pitched last night is floating on top of some foam on the wort. Is this OK? Should I attempt to stir that stuff in with the small end of my long spoon? My new airlock is already bubbling, and I think it started in less than 8 hours or so after pitching the yeast. Thanks for any tips!

 

[kombat]

I would leave it. The yeast will eventually wet and reactivate and get to work.

In the future, however, it is highly recommended that you rehydrate your dry yeast according to the manufacturer's instructions before pitching. Studies show that if you pitch dry yeast directly into wort, the yeast viability can fall by as much as 50%. That is, you're almost certainly underpitching, as half the yeast will die before they ever have a chance to get to work on your wort.

 

[mrorange38]

I would leave it. The yeast will eventually wet and reactivate and get to work.

In the future, however, it is highly recommended that you rehydrate your dry yeast according to the manufacturer's instructions before pitching. Studies show that if you pitch dry yeast directly into wort, the yeast viability can fall by as much as 50%. That is, you're almost certainly underpitching, as half the yeast will die before they ever have a chance to get to work on your wort.

Thanks! I think Cooper's said to dry pitch? I'm not sure, but I've read about the "rehydration" of yeast. Have not done that before...

I think I'm noticing more now that my wort is in a clear container. The foam on top is constantly changing shape and color. This may be why I was noticing what I think was dry yeast on top, even though I did stir it up pretty good after pitching.