Starter woes

[Bru]

I made a 2L starter, cooled it, and pitched Wyeast 2124 Bohemian Lager. 24hrs later (on a stir plate) theres no action at all. Gravity is still 1.045.

Is there anything I can do or is the yeast toast ?

 

[boo boo]

Wow, no change at all?

What conditions were the yeast subject to? South Africa must be hot this time of the year, so did your yeast get too hot before you had a chance to use it?
Give it another day and check it. If no change, reboil your starter, cool, and pitch new yeast.
At least, that's what I would do.

 

[Bru]

Its been in the fridge. I took it out about an hour before pitching. Starter and yeast were both 20C when I pitched.
Hopefully by tomorrow morning there is some action.

 

[Revvy]

Give it time....

 

[Bru]

Really ? For a 2L starter ?
I'll take your word for it.
I hope you're right - my LHBS doesn't have any more untill next year

 

[boo boo]

What temperture did you ferment your starter at?
Normally we ferment at room temperture to grow as much yeast as we can and then we cool to decant the spent wort before pitching.
If you made your starter in the fridge, it might not have grown a lot. Was there sediment on the bottom of your starter?

Also best is to have both the yeast and wort at or slightly below normal lager yeast fermenting temps of aprox. 10c.
Reduces the chance of esters, fusels and increased diacetyl.

 

[Revvy]

Yeast can have a lag time, whether it is in beer or in it's own little flask.

 

[Bru]

EUREKA !!!!
About an hour after posting I checked and there were signs. Its going strong now.