No starter action after 24 hrs

[Steiger66]

I planned on brewing today and after 24 hrs I have no action in my starter. I'm using white labs britsh ale 005. The vile was shipped 4 weeks ago during the heat wave. The cold pack was warm when the shipment was recieved. I think the yeast is dead. Midwest also sent a 6 gram packet of Muntons dry yeast included with the kit. I'm brewing a Honey Nut Brown Ale Extract kit.
Should I use the muntons? I havent heard good things about muntons or Should I just reorder the white labs. Thanks in advance. Looking forward to your suggestions

 

[Revvy]

What are you defining as "action?"

It doesn't matter one blip in your fermenter or your starter flask if the airlock bubbles or not (if you are using an airlock and not tinfoil if you are using tinfoil, you aren't getting bibbling anyway,) or if you see a krauzen. In fact starter fermentation are some of the fastest or slowest but most importantly, the most boring fermentations out there. Usually it's done withing a few hours of yeast pitch...usually overnight when we are sleeping, and the starter looks like nothing ever happened...except for the little band at the bottom. Or it can take awhile...but either way there's often no "activity" whatsoever....

I usually run my stirplate for the first 24 hours, then shut it down, if you are spinning your starter it is really hard to get a krausen to form anyway, since it's all spinning, and there's often a head of foam on it from the movement.


All that really matters is that creamy band o yeast at the bottom.

This is a chilled sample so it's flocculated, but even with an unchilled sample you should see a band of yeast at the bottom. Here's an unchilled version

Same thing, a band.

As it is I've only ever seen two or three krausens actually on my starter (one blew off a bunch of krausen and knocked the tinfoil off the flask,) and the evidence of one on the flask at the "waterline" once. But I've never not had a starter take off.

Look for the yeast at the bottom, don't worry what it looks like on top.

If you have yeast on the bottom....that's all you really need.


And even if you don't I would pitch the starter and wait the 72 hours that we recommend on your beer. I have never had yeast fail me.....

I subscribe to this....Stop Bashing My Yeast friends.

 

[steinsato]

Revvy you must have an automated post for these questions. I swear I've seen this exact same reply from you, numerous times.

 

[Shooter]

Revvy you must have an automated post for these questions. I swear I've seen this exact same reply from you, numerous times.

The man is a cut and paste wizard!

To the OP, Revvy has it right. I will sometimes see some bubbling of the wort on the stirplate, but VERY rarely any sort of krausen. However, the starter will be milky and there will be that layer of yeast that forms on the bottom when the yeast isn't in suspension.

 

[Revvy]

Revvy you must have an automated post for these questions. I swear I've seen this exact same reply from you, numerous times.

As long as the same question gets asked, then yes....

 

[Steiger66]

Thanks, I was curious because this is my first starter where no krausen (action) formed. As usual it's a simple explanation. As usual no need for me to panic.
Thanks again