Underpitched, now what?

[kev211]

Brewed a chocolate milk stout on Saturday. I was expecting an OG around 1.091, but Im getting better with my new system and efficiency has been getting better and ended up with an actual OG of 1.095 for a 5.5 gallon batch. Prepared 1 vial of WLP002 with a 2L starter on a stir plate before brewday. Now Im realizing that I may have severely under pitched my yeast. I was thinking about getting another vial today of WLP002 and pitching it directly when I get home. Is that a viable option? Im still getting some pretty vigorous action in the carboy. Im just not sure if I have either A. already stressed the yeast in the beer, and B. would adding another vial at this point actually be effective.

 

[ArcLight]

I would let it be, as the new yeast will be introduced into an alcohol filled/stressful environment.

In addition to using a starter, for a beer of that gravity I'd suggest using a yeast nutrient, and make sure you oxygenated your wort. In fact, for high gravity beers you can open up the fermenter after 9 hours, stir it to release the CO2 (yeast don't like pressure), and shake again to reoxygenate. At that point the yeast will consume the Oxygen and you will not get Oxidized beer.
Yeast prefer to use Oxygen because it's much more efficient at producing energy than fermentation.

 

[Gazza19]

You'll be fine. Assuming your yeast was fresh, you didn't underpitch by that much (maybe you pitched 250 billion whereas ideal was 350 billion so you're in the ballpark). And a chocolate milk stout will hide a lot of off flavors anyway. And, it's too late to do anything about it now since those flavors have already been made. I think it will still taste fine.

 

[atoughram]

Mr. Malty and Beersmith dont agree with each other...

Beersmith tools says your ok - and if you have vigorous activity - I believe your ok too.

to answer you question "Now what?" I say "Do nothing"

 

[kev211]

Mr. Malty and Beersmith dont agree with each other...

Beersmith tools says your ok - and if you have vigorous activity - I believe your ok too.

to answer you question "Now what?" I say "Do nothing"

Thats the problem I was having. YeastCalc said 2L was good to go. MrMalty was saying 2.75 or something like that. Either way I felt like I underpitched.

I know my FG will probably be a little high, but what can you do ya know? I just wasnt sure what the procedure was here, since Ive never actually under pitched. I was worried that someone was going to say RDAHAHB. Not so much worried, just curious what the next step would be. Either way Im sure it will come out fine

Thanks for the help everyone!