jwhirry
Member
UPDATE 9-3-2009: I am adding this to my first post so those having issues with Nottingham Batch #1081140118V exp 1-2011 can spot this right away. I thank Lallemand and Keith Lemcke for this offer and customer service.
I would suggest for all homebrewers to record not only the yeast used but the batch# and exp date. This will help you and the community should an issue like this arise. Good record keeping and notes will also help you become a better brewer.
Original first post from 7-21-2009 follows:
I have read here that a few others seem to be having issues with Nottingham slow starting lately. Is this the case with the "New" Nottingham?
On the morning of the 4th of July I brewed an Irish Red from a Midwest Extract kit. I put the Muntuns yeast in the fridge and used an old Nottingham packet I found in there. I thought if it is not viable I will quickly know and I will pitch the Muntuns. After I cooled the wort to 70 F with my immersion chiller, I aerated, put in the fermenter (glass 6.5 gallon carboy) and pitched my rehydrated yeast. I put it into my newly built fermentarator and set it for 61. No need for me to worry at all, I pitched around 5 AM and by 10 AM I had signs of activity, I was gone the rest of the day but by the time I got home after fireworks that evening there was a nice healthy fermentation going a good krausen and that lovely glugging in the airlock. It is what I have come to expect from Nottingham every time I have used it.
This last Saturday July 18, I brewed 2 batches. I ordered Malt, Hops, 6 packets of Nottingham and a Barley Crusher Malt Mill. I have now put together a workable all grain system. So first time all grain, I used beersmith to design a Schwarzbier that I planned to brew as an ale, and for something different decided I would like to try the Graff. I made a few minor changes to the Graff recipe increasing the grain bill to a pound and using 0.25 lb of Crystal 40, 0.15 lb of Melanoidin, and 0.6 lb of Munich. I did not have any terrified wheat. I thought to try an ounce or 2 of flaked barley or oats but some thoughts are fleeting. I mashed according to the recipe listed on this site only increasing the water and during boil I added 2 lbs of Light DME. I cooled with the immersion chiller to 70 deg F, rehydrated the yeast same as I do every time, Mixed and aerated via sloshing 4 gallons of Cider at room temp triple checked to be sure it was only Vitamin C listed and no other preservatives. Pitched the yeast and put it into the Fermentarator set for 61 degrees. OG 1.060
On to the Schwarzbier I already had this started I can post the recipe if need be, but other than using a wide variety of specialty grains, I used about 6 lbs of Munich and about 3.5 of Pilsner (2 Row) for the base grains, the only thing other than ale yeast out of style was the addition of Seeds of Paradise. I unfortunately forgot to add them to the boil so I lightly cracked them with a mortar and pestle and tossed them into the fermenter. I chilled with immersion chiller same as before to 70 deg F, aerated, added to fermenter pitched rehydrated yeast and set into the fermentarator. OG 1.043 (a little low on efficiency I need to review my Mash procedures)
Sunday morning check temp 61 degrees open fermentarator no action in either vessel in fact I notice the pressure is lower inside the carboys than out as water leans in not worried at all just taking mental notes, I changed the ice, checked the fan operation, and turn it up a degree for luck. Came home that night and still no action, still has lower pressure inside both vessels. Now I am slightly concerned, 24 hrs with Nottingham and No Activity I tell myself not to sweat it but that it would not hurt to pitch another packet. I rehydrate another packet and pitch 2/3rds into the Graff and 1/3 into the Schwarz. I turn the fermentarator up another degree.
Monday morning temp good, I open it up, still nothing about 36 hours in now and I cannot see any signs of a start to fermentation. I close it up and go to work. I stew about it all morning and barely get an ounce of work done. I go home at lunch to peek. The Schwarz looks as though it has built a little pressure, the Graff not as much. Is the yeast coming to life? Or has a 1 deg f change increased the volume of air inside the carboys that much I am really beating myself up now. Last night Approaching 48 hours, and no signs of a change since earlier I pitch a packet of Muntuns to each no rehydrating just threw it in on top. I contemplated putting the fermentarator to the upper 60s but set it to 64. This morning there were signs of yeast colonies forming all over the top of the Schwarz and what looked like a single large colony in one spot on top of the Graff. I am tempted to go home at lunch and peek.
PS. Irish Red was kegged that night. I am still setting up my Kegerator but the small bit I tried was good even if it was a bit green
I would suggest for all homebrewers to record not only the yeast used but the batch# and exp date. This will help you and the community should an issue like this arise. Good record keeping and notes will also help you become a better brewer.
Original first post from 7-21-2009 follows:
I have read here that a few others seem to be having issues with Nottingham slow starting lately. Is this the case with the "New" Nottingham?
On the morning of the 4th of July I brewed an Irish Red from a Midwest Extract kit. I put the Muntuns yeast in the fridge and used an old Nottingham packet I found in there. I thought if it is not viable I will quickly know and I will pitch the Muntuns. After I cooled the wort to 70 F with my immersion chiller, I aerated, put in the fermenter (glass 6.5 gallon carboy) and pitched my rehydrated yeast. I put it into my newly built fermentarator and set it for 61. No need for me to worry at all, I pitched around 5 AM and by 10 AM I had signs of activity, I was gone the rest of the day but by the time I got home after fireworks that evening there was a nice healthy fermentation going a good krausen and that lovely glugging in the airlock. It is what I have come to expect from Nottingham every time I have used it.
This last Saturday July 18, I brewed 2 batches. I ordered Malt, Hops, 6 packets of Nottingham and a Barley Crusher Malt Mill. I have now put together a workable all grain system. So first time all grain, I used beersmith to design a Schwarzbier that I planned to brew as an ale, and for something different decided I would like to try the Graff. I made a few minor changes to the Graff recipe increasing the grain bill to a pound and using 0.25 lb of Crystal 40, 0.15 lb of Melanoidin, and 0.6 lb of Munich. I did not have any terrified wheat. I thought to try an ounce or 2 of flaked barley or oats but some thoughts are fleeting. I mashed according to the recipe listed on this site only increasing the water and during boil I added 2 lbs of Light DME. I cooled with the immersion chiller to 70 deg F, rehydrated the yeast same as I do every time, Mixed and aerated via sloshing 4 gallons of Cider at room temp triple checked to be sure it was only Vitamin C listed and no other preservatives. Pitched the yeast and put it into the Fermentarator set for 61 degrees. OG 1.060
On to the Schwarzbier I already had this started I can post the recipe if need be, but other than using a wide variety of specialty grains, I used about 6 lbs of Munich and about 3.5 of Pilsner (2 Row) for the base grains, the only thing other than ale yeast out of style was the addition of Seeds of Paradise. I unfortunately forgot to add them to the boil so I lightly cracked them with a mortar and pestle and tossed them into the fermenter. I chilled with immersion chiller same as before to 70 deg F, aerated, added to fermenter pitched rehydrated yeast and set into the fermentarator. OG 1.043 (a little low on efficiency I need to review my Mash procedures)
Sunday morning check temp 61 degrees open fermentarator no action in either vessel in fact I notice the pressure is lower inside the carboys than out as water leans in not worried at all just taking mental notes, I changed the ice, checked the fan operation, and turn it up a degree for luck. Came home that night and still no action, still has lower pressure inside both vessels. Now I am slightly concerned, 24 hrs with Nottingham and No Activity I tell myself not to sweat it but that it would not hurt to pitch another packet. I rehydrate another packet and pitch 2/3rds into the Graff and 1/3 into the Schwarz. I turn the fermentarator up another degree.
Monday morning temp good, I open it up, still nothing about 36 hours in now and I cannot see any signs of a start to fermentation. I close it up and go to work. I stew about it all morning and barely get an ounce of work done. I go home at lunch to peek. The Schwarz looks as though it has built a little pressure, the Graff not as much. Is the yeast coming to life? Or has a 1 deg f change increased the volume of air inside the carboys that much I am really beating myself up now. Last night Approaching 48 hours, and no signs of a change since earlier I pitch a packet of Muntuns to each no rehydrating just threw it in on top. I contemplated putting the fermentarator to the upper 60s but set it to 64. This morning there were signs of yeast colonies forming all over the top of the Schwarz and what looked like a single large colony in one spot on top of the Graff. I am tempted to go home at lunch and peek.
PS. Irish Red was kegged that night. I am still setting up my Kegerator but the small bit I tried was good even if it was a bit green
