Is my first lagerr stuck?

[batsakis]

Hello all

On Saturday I made my first lager a Czech pils(clone brews pilsner urquell. It has been over 48 hours and there is still no sign of fermentation. I know that lagers tend to take a bit longer but I am getting concerned.

I pitched a fresh pils yeast from white labs in a berry well aerated wort at 75 degrees and then put it in a refrigerator set at 50F.

Looking back I should have done a yeast starter. When and should I get some more yeast and do a starter and repitch?

Any help would be great.

Thanks nick.

 

[ArcaneXor]

Lagers require more yeast than ales, so a single vial is a significant underpitch. It may take a couple of extra days for the beer to start fermenting.

 

[osagedr]

It's not "stuck" unless it gets started then stops.

Yes, you underpitched. You might still turn out a decent batch, or you might get only partway to your FG and it'll quit on you. One solution would be to rehydrate and pitch a couple packs of dry yeast (I love W-34/70); that way you can be sure your beer will ferment out. Otherwise, you have little choice but to wait and see. Keep your hydrometer handy.

 

[batsakis]

Thanks for the help!