Hello everyone,
A happy new years to you all. Started brewing last year about this time so just over a year in and it's been a awesome experience so far. Working on some new beers away from my normal Bells Two Hearted clone that I have done 5 batches, using yeast from bells two hearted and propagating that yeast. All the beers have been stellar and are improving. That is where I am at today.
My current problem is the last two brews have never started fermenting. Never had a problem with fermention and all of my fermention were very quick. 4-5 days max to be complete. I bought a Spindle early on to watch the cycle and that has been the best money spent. So fun.
So my last bells two hearted clone failed to ferment a ounce of alcohol. Zero. I had the chemicals not perfect and I messed up my yeast starter both times with too little yeast (maybe 20ml of liquid yeast) and too much water in my yeast starter. At this time I didn't know about the too much water. So I finally called It a loss and tossed it
Next and currently have a Bluemoon clone at 5 days that has failed to ferment again. First round of yeast was again too watered down for the little amount of yeast I used to start the starter. Seeing no action the second day I prepared another yeast starter. This time I went back to my notes and realized my mistake. It's only a 1 liter starter and I was doing 1.5++ liters... So this time I used the correct amount of water for yeast starter. Big thick layer of yeast on bottom after 48 hours. Me Feeling good I figured out the problem I went ahead and dumped it in the bluemoon clone at day 3.
Currently the bluemoon still hasn't started fermenting after 2 days with the fresh yeast starter.
Things to know:
I make the yeast starter which has been on the shelf for about 6months.
Bluemoon recipe was classic clone recipe for a 4.5 gallon batch.
I added a teaspoon of sodium chloride and gypsum each to my RO water.
PH was around 5.4 from a properly setup ph meter.
Boiled an extra 15 minutes longer to give a high percentage beer.
Yeast was a fresh US-05 with 48 hours in yeast starter. Pitched around 68 degrees.
Fermenter is clean and sealed. Mine is clear so I cover it up due to light.
Fermenter Temperature is held with a simple plant heater at 67-68F entire time.
SG 1.016 from spindle which has been reading a little low I believe.
I thought I was on the right track when I realized I was using too much water and that would explain all my stalls I had but here I am again with fresh correct yeast starter.
What am I missing?
Should I toss a fresh yeast packet alone into the fermenter (so a 3rd pitch)? So far I have only used the yeast starter after 48 hours before pitching into the brew, never just the packet.
Thanks for reading and any help is appreciated! Cheers!
A happy new years to you all. Started brewing last year about this time so just over a year in and it's been a awesome experience so far. Working on some new beers away from my normal Bells Two Hearted clone that I have done 5 batches, using yeast from bells two hearted and propagating that yeast. All the beers have been stellar and are improving. That is where I am at today.
My current problem is the last two brews have never started fermenting. Never had a problem with fermention and all of my fermention were very quick. 4-5 days max to be complete. I bought a Spindle early on to watch the cycle and that has been the best money spent. So fun.
So my last bells two hearted clone failed to ferment a ounce of alcohol. Zero. I had the chemicals not perfect and I messed up my yeast starter both times with too little yeast (maybe 20ml of liquid yeast) and too much water in my yeast starter. At this time I didn't know about the too much water. So I finally called It a loss and tossed it
Next and currently have a Bluemoon clone at 5 days that has failed to ferment again. First round of yeast was again too watered down for the little amount of yeast I used to start the starter. Seeing no action the second day I prepared another yeast starter. This time I went back to my notes and realized my mistake. It's only a 1 liter starter and I was doing 1.5++ liters... So this time I used the correct amount of water for yeast starter. Big thick layer of yeast on bottom after 48 hours. Me Feeling good I figured out the problem I went ahead and dumped it in the bluemoon clone at day 3.
Currently the bluemoon still hasn't started fermenting after 2 days with the fresh yeast starter.
Things to know:
I make the yeast starter which has been on the shelf for about 6months.
Bluemoon recipe was classic clone recipe for a 4.5 gallon batch.
I added a teaspoon of sodium chloride and gypsum each to my RO water.
PH was around 5.4 from a properly setup ph meter.
Boiled an extra 15 minutes longer to give a high percentage beer.
Yeast was a fresh US-05 with 48 hours in yeast starter. Pitched around 68 degrees.
Fermenter is clean and sealed. Mine is clear so I cover it up due to light.
Fermenter Temperature is held with a simple plant heater at 67-68F entire time.
SG 1.016 from spindle which has been reading a little low I believe.
I thought I was on the right track when I realized I was using too much water and that would explain all my stalls I had but here I am again with fresh correct yeast starter.
What am I missing?
Should I toss a fresh yeast packet alone into the fermenter (so a 3rd pitch)? So far I have only used the yeast starter after 48 hours before pitching into the brew, never just the packet.
Thanks for reading and any help is appreciated! Cheers!