No fermentation

[jblonsh]

Bah! My yeast hasn't started, I pitched it 36 hours ago, no bubbles, wort was 77 when I pitched.... White labs ale yeast.... I have never had a yeast not start... Though I generally use dry yeast I have used white labs before with no issue. I gave the just a big stir this morning.... We will see if that does anything. If not should I just repitch? The only thing I can think is I purchased this from austin homebrew and shipped it here to Michigan, they did put it on a cold pack but It was not cold anymore. What maximum temp could it handle and still live, would it have looked differently to me if it was toast? Thx!

 

[skeezerpleezer]

What was you OG and what is your current SG?

 

[jblonsh]

1.051 I haven't taken another but zero fermentation I would expect no change

 

[skeezerpleezer]

How would you know that zero fermentation happened without taking a gravity reading? Airlock activity is a good sign of fermentation, however no airlock activity does not necessarily mean there is no fermentation.

 

[jblonsh]

I do not know, it was an assumption based on no airlock activity and looking at the wort...... That's why I said I "expect". I will take another reading when I get home to verify.

 

[kh54s10]

Without a gravity reading you can't be sure that there is no fermentation.
What was the age of the yeast. Older yeast = lower viability
Did you make a starter?

Older yeast, and/or underpitching will make the lag time longer. Up to 72 hours before taking corrective action.

 

[jblonsh]

No starter. White labs, I received the yeast from Austin homebrew the same week so it only sat a couple days in the fridge. I get home in 3 hours and will get a gravity reading and a date on the vial

 

[jblonsh]

Came home and I have bubbles! Thanks for all your advice!

 

[a6ladd]

If you are going to continue ordering your yeast online I would definatley look into making starters. I actually reccomend them everytime because they will create the most healthy fermentation possible, but thats just me. They are very simple and make a dramatic difference in your beer

Bells General Store sells an awesome stirplate kit at a very good price. I like it because I can set it and forget it

 

[jblonsh]

A6ladd thank u very much for the advice. I think I am going to go with starters now. This one just took a little longer to get going than my comfort zone. It's very funny I suggested the stir plate as I just looked these up yesterday. I will be ordering mine today for sure! From what I have heard a good starter is 2 cups water to 1/2 cup dme boiled 10 minutes.

 

[Revvy]

But you still have to separate the idea that lack of bubbles = no fermentation. An airlock is NOT a fermentation gauge, it's a vent to bleed excess co2. sometimes they don't bubble. And sometimes they start and stop. You can't assume anything by them. If you want to know what your beer is doing, you have to get over any fear or trepidation you may have about gravity readings, and take them.

The ONLY activity that is accurate is numbers on a hydrometer, not airlock bubbling or lack of it, or even size or pemanence of a krausen is a good measure.

 

[jblonsh]

Revvy, check and check. I will not be making an assumption of bubbles equals fermentation.