No fermentation yet

[crjohn02]

I brewed my next batch this past Saturday. Everything seemed pretty spot on in my measurements and my OG turned out pretty close to what I thought it would be. After cool down, I realized I didn't pull my WLP300 out of the fridge yet. The label says pull it out 3-6 hours before. I let it sit about 30 minutes then added it to my wort. I put it in my basement and checked it a couple days later and there was no fermentation yet. I noticed it was sitting at 63 degrees down there, so on Monday I pulled it upstairs where it has risen to 68. As of this morning, there is still no fermentation going on. Is there anything I can do to save this batch?

 

[EdWort]

You probably shocked your yeast since you did not let it warm up from 38 degrees slowly.

Get another vial, let it warm up and then pitch it ASAP before natural yeast takes over.

 

[funkstrman]

^^ I agree. I would think that nothing good will happen if it has taken this long to start. Better pitch again.

 

[mikeysab]

How do you know fermentation didn't start yet?

 

[xjmox14x]

How do you know fermentation didn't start yet?

This, I'm wondering the same thing.

 

[samc]

Best practices are to make a starter. Cold pitching is done all the time and I've personally never had a problem with it, doubt it is the cause of a slow start over possible under pitch.

 

[Mcbobs]

Have you taken another gravity reading to be sure that you're actually not fermenting at all? I would take a reading before anything else and definitely before spending money.

 

[brownribbon]

This, I'm wondering the same thing.

I'm guessing he never saw bubbles coming out of the airlock.

 

[mikeysab]

That's the only reason I asked. His beer might be DONE, but he never saw bubbles, so thinks it never did anything. I usually take my packets out of the fridge, give them a minute in starsan, then drop the yeast into 90 to 100 degree water before pitching. I've never had a problem with fermentation. Just curious what he's basing his decision on that it hasn't started.

 

[Mcbobs]

I'm guessing he never saw bubbles coming out of the airlock.

That's why I asked if he took a gravity reading. Maybe just didn't have a good seal with the airlock and fermentation occurred. If the hydrometer shows fermentation, proceed as normal. If no fermentation has occurred, repitch and proceed as normal.

 

[crjohn02]

Thanks for the advice! I am basing this off never seeing the airlock rise. It has been flat against the opening everytime I look at it. I will take another reading and see if it's still at OG.

 

[brownribbon]

That's why I asked if he took a gravity reading. Maybe just didn't have a good seal with the airlock and fermentation occurred. If the hydrometer shows fermentation, proceed as normal. If no fermentation has occurred, repitch and proceed as normal.

Good point. I didn't think of that.

 

[crjohn02]

I went home right after posting this thread, and wouldn't you know, the airlock was just bubbling away. Isn't that the way it always happens? When you finally ask about it, it takes care of itself. Thanks everyone for the advice/help! There were a lot of good comments I wouldn't have thought of and will be stored away for the next time this happens!

Cheers!