Some Thing On The Top

[wbwagner]

So yesterday was my first brew day. I began to suspect that my yeast was dead earlier that day, but the kit that I had ordered did not have any extra extract to make a starter. Its been 12 hours and not so much as a bubble yet. On the top of the wort there is something floating. I can't be sure if its bacteria or just some grain that had gotten into it early on. Any suggestions? Should I sanitize something and get it out? How long before I know there's a problem with the yeast (which is White Labs California Ale #WL001). Is it okay to just order some new yeast and put it in or will it spoil in the 5 days that it will take to get here?

 

[Olddog]

12 hours is a bit early to start worrying about the fermentation I think. And it's also way early for any kind of infection to show up. Keep an eye on it and don't worry!

 

[wbwagner]

Thanks, I know its a noob thread... but that is exactly what I am.

 

[JOHN51277]

Give it 3 days/72 hours to see if you get any bubbling. if not, take a gravity reading and see if it is coming down. The airlock is not always a fail safe way to tell on fermentation. If after 72 hours it has not changed, repitch.

 

[Olddog]

By the way, what made you suspect your yeast was dead? I would think those White Labs vials would be hard to totally kill accidentally.

 

[wbwagner]

The only thing that I had to go by was to follow the directions on the vial that said something like "shake it up and see if there are any CO2 bubbles" since I didn't have enough extract and nothing really happened. A lot of stuff that I have read has said that the yeast are susceptible to damage during the summer months and here in MS while it was being shipped it was upwards of 93 degrees.

 

[snowveil]

give it more time

yeast can take a while to start doing it's thing, especially if you didn't make a starter.

As noted above, wait 3 days before you worry about needing to repitch.

 

[wbwagner]

Thanks Alot. My other question: is it okay to let the wort sit for almost a week without fermentation before I repitch? I suppose I don't really have to much of a choice? Should I dump and retry if it doesn't ever catch then?

 

[fatherbigfoot]

don't dump if your sanitation was good it should be fine to sit in the fermentor with no activity. As for the stuff floating on the top of your wort if its whiteish looking it chould be that start of your yeast colonies ale yeast are top down fermentors so before they start fermenting hard core they will form little while colonies floating at the top of the fermentor.
RDWHAHB

 

[BigB]

Also, in the future order the yeast with an ice pack. That will keep the yeast cool enough until you get it.

 

[wbwagner]

@ fatherbigfoot:
Thanks that would make a lot of sense wouldn't it.

@ BibB:
I didn't see an option for that. I'll look into it. Where do you order your yeast from?

 

[wbwagner]

How do you delete a post?

 

[ctufano]

WB, I started my first brew on the 18th in the morning, and didnt get much activity until around the morning of the 19th. Give it some time

 

[RedGlass]

WL001 always leaves a bunch of crap on the top of my carboys. My guess is you're seeing your yeasties getting ready to go, and they'll be a bit slower to really get going without a starter, but in the end it should all be well. RDWHAHB.

 

[eddie]

What you see floating is probably the first signs of fermentation. The yeast are starting to get their groove on. RDWAHAHB!!!

 

[BigB]

@ BibB:
I didn't see an option for that. I'll look into it. Where do you order your yeast from?

I buy mine locally, but I know that AHBS and Northern Brewer sell them for an additional 75 or so cents. Midwest sells a "deluxe" cold pack shipping box for $7.00 but that is only good if you order bulk. I'm sure most online places have the option, you just have to look for it. For examble, AHBS is on the same page when you are looking at a particular yeast, it is just smaller and off the the right as an additional thing you might be interested in.