Noob yeast wild pitch

[GIusedtoBe]

After waiting an incredibly long time for the wort to cool off, I took my WL-001 California Ale Yeast shook it well like the guy at the homebrew store said and attempted to pitch the yeast into my 5 gallon carboy. The yeast foamed like a shaken up beer and I lost 1/3 to 1/2 of the yeast. It's now 18 hours later and I'm seeing some very beginning signs of fermentation.

My question is: Did I get enough yeast in there? I've read about under and over pitching but would'nt the yeast thats there reproduce enough to ferment all the beer? I'm comparing this to my last batch that was done with dry yeast and it took of like a beast.

At what point should I go buy more yeast and re-pitch if this does'nt take off?

Thanks,
Alan W

 

[FlyingHorse]

If you're seeing fermentation after 18 hrs, you're probably fine. Liquid yeast without a starter, I'd wait 48 hours before I worried. Next time make a starter

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/wiki/index.php/Yeast_Starters

You'll make sure your yeast is viable, and fermentation will start much faster.

 

[feedthebear]

My first pitch with a yeast vile went the same way. I switched to Wyeast smack packs, which have their own set of problems.

You should be fine. It just takes longer to get the yeast population up.

 

[Yooper]

I found out the hard way about the vials of yeast, too. The package says, "Shake well". It should say, "Shake well and then wait a minute then slowly open it over the wort or else you'll be covered head to toe with yeast and have hardly any left for your beer."

Ask me how I know.

A couple of things for next time: make a starter if using liquid yeast, and get the wort cooled much quicker! You can use an ice bath in your sink or a cooler or in your bathtub, but you want to cool the wort as fast as possible. The longer it's above 80 degrees, the greater the chance of infection and off flavors.

 

[RichBrewer]

I found out the hard way about the vials of yeast, too. The package says, "Shake well". It should say, "Shake well and then wait a minute then slowly open it over the wort or else you'll be covered head to toe with yeast and have hardly any left for your beer."

Ask me how I know.

The first time I used a Yeast Labs vial I did the very same thing. I can't believe they don't have a warning on there. I bet I was wearing about 1/4th of the contents of the vial.
Now I VERY slowly crack it open and vent the pressure.

 

[efreem01]

Same here. I just used WLP021 Pacific Ale. I shook it up standing in the middle of my kitchen and opened it. It foamed over and i tried cupping my hands to catch it and threw it into the cooled wort. If i hadn't been elbow deep in sanitizer all day, i'd be really worried about infection.

 

[GIusedtoBe]

I found out the hard way about the vials of yeast, too. The package says, "Shake well". It should say, "Shake well and then wait a minute then slowly open it over the wort or else you'll be covered head to toe with yeast and have hardly any left for your beer."

Ask me how I know.

A couple of things for next time: make a starter if using liquid yeast, and get the wort cooled much quicker! You can use an ice bath in your sink or a cooler or in your bathtub, but you want to cool the wort as fast as possible. The longer it's above 80 degrees, the greater the chance of infection and off flavors.

Yeah, I will make a starter next time thats for sure. As far as the wort cooling goes, I do have a problem with that. My first batch I cooled the brew pot in an ice bath in the kitchen sink and then mixed it with the water in the carboy (6.5 gal). The problem with that was short of pouring wort from the carboy, I had no way to get a hydrometer reading so this last time I thought I would mix the hot wort with very cold water in a plastic fermenter and then get a reading before transferring to the carboy. Long story short, the wort in a covered plastic fermenter in ice took darn near 4hours to cool! I think the plastic fermenter just held the heat in. I think next time I'll get a big galvanized tub for an ice bath and just stick the whole carboy in it and use rock salt to get the bath super cold.

Thanks for the tips
Alan W

 

[gnets99]

The problem with that was short of pouring wort from the carboy, I had no way to get a hydrometer reading

I use a turkey baster. Throw it in the sanitizer with everything else. Once everything is transferred, I use the turkey baster to get enough wort for my hydrometer tube and then pitch the yeast.

 

[david_42]

"I think next time I'll get a big galvanized tub for an ice bath and just stick the whole carboy in it and use rock salt to get the bath super cold."

Sounds like the method I was taught to crack the end off of a bottle.