No bubbles yet

[PhoenixCoyote]

Hello,
I'm making this from a Brewers Best kit. My sister got it for me months ago and keeps nagging me to make it. I have done other kits before and have seen activity within the first 6 hours. It has been 15 hours now and nothing. It is a nottingham dry yeast packet. Expiration date isn't until 2007. I sprinkled it in and stirred in the low 80's. The directions say i can do that up to 90F. Was it too hot? Or is everything ok and i need to just wait?
It says to cool the wort down to 70 F as soon as possible. Is there a time frame i can do that in? I could't get it down to 70 after an hour and didn't want to wait longer. My question is should i wait no matter how long it takes? I had the bucket in the kitchen sink with frozen plastic bottles. Thanks for any advice.

 

[davidkrau]

Hang in there. Don't worry. Sometimes it takes longer than 15 hrs to notice fermentation. Your temp. seems about right. keep us informed and good luck.

 

[PhoenixCoyote]

Almost 24 hours now with no activity. Is it ruined? I have no additional yeast. Can i take the lid off and see if anything is happening? Thanks.

 

[davidkrau]

Take the lid off and take a peak. Hopefully you didn't have the lid sealed properly and you'll find a lot of white foam. You can tell if the lid is closed properly. Before you open it Push down on the center of the lid, If the lid is sealed prop0erly you will see air airlock bubbling. It dosen't hurt to peek inside the container or to take a sample for a hydrometer reading.

 

[PhoenixCoyote]

Take the lid off and take a peak. Hopefully you didn't have the lid sealed properly and you'll find a lot of white foam. You can tell if the lid is closed properly. Before you open it Push down on the center of the lid, If the lid is sealed prop0erly you will see air airlock bubbling. It dosen't hurt to peek inside the container or to take a sample for a hydrometer reading.

It was sealed properly. Air came through the airlock when i pushed down on the lid. Took the lid off, looked inside, no foam. Resealed. Looks like it's not fermenting. How long can it sit before i can get more yeast into it? Or is it ruined already? Thank You.

 

[gauthierk]

My second batch of beer took close to 36 hour to kick off.... I wouldn't panic. Sometimes you get some yeast that are slow to fire off. My first batch took like 24 hours to start also. I started making starters and get it go ferment in 6 to 12 now. Honestly, I wouldn't worry until 72 hours then you might need to repitch... You can get a pack of yeast from your LHBS for less than a dollar.

 

[PhoenixCoyote]

I have action finally. Getting some bubbles once every minute so it is starting. It should pick up by tomorrow hopefully. I think i did too good of a job keeping it cool in this desert. With the ice packs and wet t-shirt it is at 65 F. Is that still ok or does it have to be between 69-72? This is the longest i've had to wait for fermentation to start. Thanks for the advice and telling me to have patience.

 

[gauthierk]

From what I have read and done, that might be a tad bit too low of a temp. I have had excellent results from holding my primary at about 72F before the fermentation takes off.. If your doing like I have, once it takes off your temp will go up about 4 to 6 degrees F then settle back down... My last batch stayed around 74-76 for most of the primary and when I racked to the secondary, it stayed around 72...