Nottingham Yeast recall

[SteveM]

I am looking forward to hearing from someone who pitches theirs. I hope that it comes out well. Credit to them for (finally) coming through with the replacements.

 

[nutty_gnome]

I got bold and pitched one pack of the notty that came in the mail; it was lot 1087117102 exp 6-2011. I pitched it in a no chill modified centennial blonde (from the recipe on this site) with an OG of 1.061. It took off within roughly 20 hours (I just dumped and stirred the dry yeast in) at an ambient of 65 to 68 degrees. After 4 days airlock activity has slowed. So it seems this satchet worked for me.


AND another thing....
I thought about writing a letter to Danstar to tell them that I'm pretty darn unhappy with their recall effort. What really ticks me off is that no where on the danstar/lallemand website is there a mention of the recall. I think that 'error of omission' is unethical. Based on the absolutetly dismal way that homebrewer's were informed of the problem (via a short message buried a hundred posts into a random thread) and the complete lack of communications from their web presence I honestly don't see myself choosing their products over the others that are commonly available.

This whole experience leaves me with a poor impression of the company. N_G

 

[Guinness]

So far as we know, just the one batch was affected, correct?

I have some of the 11g packets, as well as some 5g packets. The 11g ones with right (wrong???) lot code were sent back, but I'm not real comfortable pitching the 5g packets.

I used one of the 5g packets to make some ginger ale, and it took FOR EVER to carbonate, and the flavour wasn't what I normally expect. I shrugged it off, but I wonder.

 

[SteveM]

So far as we know, just the one batch was affected, correct?

I have some of the 11g packets, as well as some 5g packets. The 11g ones with right (wrong???) lot code were sent back, but I'm not real comfortable pitching the 5g packets.

I used one of the 5g packets to make some ginger ale, and it took FOR EVER to carbonate, and the flavour wasn't what I normally expect. I shrugged it off, but I wonder.

If you read through ALL the posts in all the threads on this (which I do not advise - I think there were three, and I've read them all), you will see that they admitted to a problem with one batch, but you get a clear impression that the problem was much bigger than that.

 

[Guinness]

Ok, makes sense. I certainly didn't read all...most in this thread, but didn't look at the others. I hope they straighten things out, because I really like the yeast.

I think it's harder to catch with soda making if there's a problem. No lack of airlock activity or kreuzen to indicate a problem. Main indication would be squeezing the bottle to see if it's getting harder...pretty subjective!

 

[LayMeister]

I have had problems with a different batch. Contacted them a week ago, but no response.

Paul

 

[portlandbeergeek]

Just got 7 packs in the mail in return for three, all in less than a month from sending them back!

 

[permo]

I just got four packs back for one that I sent in. I made a starter with it this saturday just to make sure it was viable, it took off lake crazy and is bubbling away in a brown ale at 62 degress like a champ.

 

[keelanfish]

I brewed a variation of EdWort's Haus Pale Ale using the recalled yeast (pitched before I found out about the recall). It was a 13 gallon batch, so I pitched two of the recalled packages. Brewed the beer September 10 and active fermentation started within 36 hours. Seemed to ferment normally and finished at 1.013, which is very close to expected. Bottled on October 29. Opened a bottle at 3 weeks and it was under carbonated and still very green and turbid. Waited another week and opened another bottle and it was better, but not great. Opened more bottles this past weekend (6 weeks after bottling) and they were getting better but still fairly turbid. I've brewed this pale ale recipe three times in the past year and the biggest issue I'm associating with the defective yeast is the bottle priming. It seems to be taking longer than past times and is also not clearing well.

 

[uncleozzy]

Man, I wish I had been following this. I haven't brewed in ages, and missed the recall notice. I pitched a packet of Notty on Saturday afternoon into 5 gallons of 1.050 wort. Nothing yet. The code on my "spare" pack is the recalled code, so I'm pretty sure the other one was, too. LHBS isn't open anytime I can get to it this week, so I think I'll just rehydrate the other packet, pitch it, and hope for the best. Ugh.

 

[PintOfBitter]

i'm a little upset about this - I sent in 5 packs of Notty, got back 3 packs of D-47 and 3 packs of 1118, and NO replacement Nottingham!

I asked for my "bonus packs" to be shipped as D-47 or 1118 since 5 packs of Notty was PLENTY for me, and I really would never use many more than that before they expired. Someone didn't understand.

I'm not sure I'll ever get around to buying Nottingham again, I'm using US-05 now, and I don't see a reason to switch back.

At least they set me up for my cider and melomel projects!

 

[knightbeer39]

I just got four packs back for one that I sent in. I made a starter with it this saturday just to make sure it was viable, it took off lake crazy and is bubbling away in a brown ale at 62 degress like a champ.

Not sure why everyone else is having such a bad time, but I'm with permo. I sent in four sachets, got back eight and pitched two in a 10 gallon batch. It was going strong within 12 hours.

 

[SpanishCastleAle]

Not sure why everyone else is having such a bad time, but I'm with permo. I sent in four sachets, got back eight and pitched two in a 10 gallon batch. It was going strong within 12 hours.

The packets I got back from the recall started and went great. That was my first time ever using Notty. So I bought some more. I pitched a hydrated packet (from the purchase, not the recall) into a 1.055 Oatmeal Stout Sunday afternoon and it had not started by this morning. This is extremely unusual for me, I almost always have krausen by Monday morning. And I have an FFT going too so the FFT should always start extremely quickly (another side benefit of doing FFTs!) but it's not doing a thing.

I know it's common to hear "wait 72 hours" but for me; that's WAY too long. Good healthy yeast pitched at the correct rate and with the temp in the right range should take off WAY before 72 hours IME.

 

[eagle61]

Great... now I see this thread. I brewed my 1st ever batch the past Sunday and Notty was the yeast in the kit I was using. I knew enough to check the date and I remember it was 1/2011. But having not seen this thread till now I used the pack and threw the packaging away after using. I have no idea if my pack was one of the recalled or not and my fermentation has been slower than what I expected, 12-24 hours to start and now 1 bubble every 20-30 seconds or so.

 

[danculwell]

12-24 hours to start and now 1 bubble every 20-30 seconds or so.

I'm no expert but that looks fine to me. 12-24 hours is normal and airlock bubbles mean nothing.

 

[yeoldebrewer]

Great... now I see this thread. I brewed my 1st ever batch the past Sunday and Notty was the yeast in the kit I was using. I knew enough to check the date and I remember it was 1/2011. But having not seen this thread till now I used the pack and threw the packaging away after using. I have no idea if my pack was one of the recalled or not and my fermentation has been slower than what I expected, 12-24 hours to start and now 1 bubble every 20-30 seconds or so.

Sounds a little sluggish. But airlock activity can be deceiving and your beer will probably be fine. F.G. is what really matters.

 

[permo]

Yeah that is sluggish for nottingham. I can vouch for the recalled yeast being not good. I sent back three backs the the company and recieved 6 packs back in return so that was good.

Don't be afraid to use nottingham ale yeast, personaly I think it is very underrated, I like it better then the heralded US-05. It is more attenuative, just as clean if not cleaner, and flocculates better. Good stuff....very good stuff.

 

[Memorex88]

Well I've used it a few times lately and it seem to be back to the ol' Notty I knew before the recall problems.

 

[permo]

Well I've used it a few times lately and it seem to be back to the ol' Notty I knew before the recall problems.

+1 It is a great yeast at a great price. I have had success using nottingham in a variety of styles....heck if you are very carefull and ferment it at 72-73 degrees you can even pull of a belgian with it.....a few banana, clove esters at that temp.

 

[Pivot]

I sent in 2 sachets that were part of the recall and got 5 back from them within a week or so. since then ive used about 2 of them and no problems at all. notty may have screwed up once, but they have made it up to me at this point and im happy with them again