Pilsner yeast?

[liquidlunch]

I just did my first lager brew Sunday and I used a German Pils yeast 2007 smack pack. I noticed over the course of my 4 hour brew day the pack did not expand very much at all. I pitched at about 68 degrees and put into my controlled fermentation chamber set for 54 degrees. This was 4 days ago and I see no signs of fermentation in the airlock or when I opened the top of my bucket. Like I said I never lagered a beer or used this type of yeast before. Is this normal or was my smack pack no good? Any help would be appreciated.

 

[d3track]

That's a pretty drastic under pitch for a lager, especially if the smack pack had any age or was miss handled during any point in shipping.

Even with that, 4 days is a pretty long lag, no krausen at all?

 

[liquidlunch]

None

 

[liquidlunch]

5 gal batch 1 smack pack is all the recipe called for

 

[Hoppy2bmerry]

When you say the smack pack didn't expand much, you really mean it expanded some? I had one that I left overnight before it got going... It was expired by a couple months, and took 3 days to start fermenting - it was an ale yeast. Lagers can be going, but shoe little signs of activity. I'd say give it more time.

 

[kh54s10]

If the recipe only called for 1 pack of yeast it is not a good recipe. Check out this site: http://www.yeastcalculator.com/

Lagers need a lot more yeast cells than your average ale.

Even with the severe underpitch you should be seeing something by now. I suggest that you take a gravity reading. And possibly get a couple more packs of yeast to pitch.

 

[liquidlunch]

Thanks. I will get more. I thought it was unusual

 

[liquidlunch]

Got the yeast going. When I reach my terminal gravity do I rack it then cold crash or do I rack after it's been cold crashed? Thanks again for the info.

 

[MrPowers]

I would rack after cold crashing. Thats what I usually do.

 

[liquidlunch]

Then how long should I wait until I keg for clarity?

 

[MrPowers]

Most people would recommend to cold crash, rack straight to keg, lager while force carbonating. I haven't used that specific yeast strain before, so I'm not sure how long it will take to clear.

 

[liquidlunch]

I will give that a try. Thanks

 

[jekeane]

with an under pitch like that I would make sure to do a diacetyl rest for a week at 62° at a minimum google diacetyl test and do one.

 

[liquidlunch]

A week? I heard 2 days. I will take your advise and go a week at 62. Thanks

 

[ericbw]

How long does the recipe say to lager? Just curious.

 

[liquidlunch]

Says do a diacetyl rest for 2 days then lager for 4 weeks at 35