Starter not doing anything

[wikki]

This is my first time trying to make a starter so i'm not exactly sure what to expect. I've got a smack pack of Wyeast 1214 that I smacked Wednesday. The date on it is Nov 20, so it's a little over 2 months old. After 24 hours the pack had not inflated at all, but I went ahead and make up my starter and put it on the stir plate last night. It's been about 12 hours now and there is no activity. The middle piece on the airlock is just sitting flat on top like there is no pressure at all.

Do I have a dead pack of yeast or should I just be more patient.

 

[progmac]

i have used the 'white labs equivalent,' that is WLP 830. i noticed that even with fresh yeast, this strain took several days to show any activity in my starter wort. i'm guessing yours will start sometime this evening. i found this strain to be somewhat particular.

 

[Riot]

You don't want an air lock on the starter vessel. Part of the purpose of the stirplate is to promote gas exchange, because yeast want oxygen to grow. Sanitized tin foil works well, just make it so it won't rip, and has a couple inches of overhang all around

 

[NTXBrauer]

As mentioned above, don't use an airlock, but sanitized foil folded over the top to allow oxygen in. Also ensure the starter is at room temp currently. If after another 24-48 hrs you do not see any activity, then I would pick up some new yeast.

 

[basementbrew84]

OK you guys seem like you know what you're doin... soo I am a beginner I was pitching yeast and it my have been to high 79. It has not moved in 18 hours what do I do... help please

Sent from my SCH-I545 using Home Brew mobile app

 

[DRonco]

Personally, I'd start again at this point. Again, no airlock and pitch the yeast when you're starter liquid gets to the correct temp for the strain. Good luck.

 

[kh54s10]

Get a flashlight and look for really tiny bubbles rising. I often get almost no visible signs. Sometime you might notice a change in color. 18-24 hours on a stirplate is usually the right amount of time. After that you are fermenting the starter and no longer propagating yeast. The other way to see what is happening is to take a gravity reading.

I also agree. No airlock.

 

[Terek]

I know this isn't the right thread, but it's close and I can't figure out how to start one :/
Anyways, I'm a noob and was following my buddies instruction. I did a starter for my dry yeast. Now I'm reading all the reasons why not to do this. My question is, what do I do now? I really don't want to drive a hour and a half to get a new yeast packet. Should I just let it go, or take it off the stir plate and refrigerate now. I would just start my mash now, but it's almost 10pm and don't feal like staying up all night. Want to wait till early morning at least. PLEASE HELP!

 

[jhart94949]

I know this isn't the right thread, but it's close and I can't figure out how to start one :/
Anyways, I'm a noob and was following my buddies instruction. I did a starter for my dry yeast. Now I'm reading all the reasons why not to do this. My question is, what do I do now? I really don't want to drive a hour and a half to get a new yeast packet. Should I just let it go, or take it off the stir plate and refrigerate now. I would just start my mash now, but it's almost 10pm and don't feal like staying up all night. Want to wait till early morning at least. PLEASE HELP!

I would leave it on the stirplate and just pitch it tomorrow. If it doesn't take off in a reasonable amount of time then drive and pitch another dry pack on top. I am sure its fine. Yeast is tough, the only time I have ever had a problem is when I used some 6 month old smack packs......

 

[progmac]

I know this isn't the right thread, but it's close and I can't figure out how to start one :/
Anyways, I'm a noob and was following my buddies instruction. I did a starter for my dry yeast. Now I'm reading all the reasons why not to do this. My question is, what do I do now? I really don't want to drive a hour and a half to get a new yeast packet. Should I just let it go, or take it off the stir plate and refrigerate now. I would just start my mash now, but it's almost 10pm and don't feal like staying up all night. Want to wait till early morning at least. PLEASE HELP!

this is not a big deal. you can put it in the fridge for now, or you can go ahead and just leave it at room temperature and let it start getting active. it won't make a big difference either way. if it was me, i'd probably just leave it on the stir plate and pitch it when my wort was ready.

since you mention you are newish, i'll suggest that a far more important points is ensuring that your wort is below 70 before adding the yeast - a lot of new brewers pitch too hot because they don't have wort chillers, so try to stay patient

 

[Terek]

Luckily I work in air conditioning. Made a 50 foot 3/8 chiller with copper I had on hand from a job I didn't need it on. In theory I made money on my chiller very good advice. I messed up my first batch not cooling it enough

 

[wikki]

I only put the airlock on there for a while to see if I was getting any bubbles. I then put the foam stopper back on top. I left it on the stir plate for about 3 days and basically got nothing. I checked the SG today and it was still exactly the same as when I originally started. I just dumped it and i'll see if I can get some new yeast from the dealer.

Is it common to get a pack with dead yeast? This was my first time with liquid yeast.

 

[progmac]

I only put the airlock on there for a while to see if I was getting any bubbles. I then put the foam stopper back on top. I left it on the stir plate for about 3 days and basically got nothing. I checked the SG today and it was still exactly the same as when I originally started. I just dumped it and i'll see if I can get some new yeast from the dealer.

Is it common to get a pack with dead yeast? This was my first time with liquid yeast.

it is not very common. perhaps it froze in transit if this was mail order

 

[wikki]

it is not very common. perhaps it froze in transit if this was mail order

Yeah, it could be I think it was at the UPS depot over the weekend and then we had some of the coldest weather of the season the day or so before it arrived.