US-05 Slow Start

doublehaul · Nov 3, 2014

I would say I've used Safale US-05 more than any other yeast.

I brewed a 10 gallon batch, re-hydrated 2 packs separately in about 240ML of water I boiled (w/ yeast nutrient) and chilled to 65F (first - before hydrating), and pitched them each into 65F wort that I oxygenated 30 seconds each with straight 02.

This was last night around 5 - it's noon the following day and no sign of fermentation. This is first for me with this yeast, it usually takes off pretty fast. Maybe I should hit it with more O2. I will say it sat overnight in my garage and got to around 62F - 60F. I thought it would do fine with this temp. I brought it inside this morning and it is warming up to about 65F.

Any similar experiences? I wonder if I got a couple packs that sat at the post office for too long.

brew_ny · Nov 3, 2014

doublehaul said:
chilled to 65F (first - before hydrating)

65 is a bit cool to rehydrate 80 is better then you can put in a bit of your cooled wort to get it down to pitching temp

all the best

S_M

dkevinb · Nov 3, 2014

What he said. Fermantis recommends 80-86F for rehydrating US-05.

doublehaul · Nov 3, 2014

ya, that's the one thing I was thinking. I do believe I usually re-hydrate per instructions. Hopefully it just slowed them down. Made my re-hydrating counter-productive anyways...

burninator · Nov 3, 2014

Always takes me at least 24 hours, and usually more like 36 before I see any action out of US-05. Starts slow and ferments fast, in my limited experience.

Rev2010 · Nov 3, 2014

I've had the same experience with it starting slow when I hydrated at 85 and pitched directly into 62 degree wort. Started slow and the krausen was almost non-existent but it did the job and made a great beer. So don't worry it will be fine even if it doesn't get very visually active. I now rehydrate at 85 then after the wait then stir period I put it in the fridge for a few minutes to cool to my wort temp before pitching. Works much better this way, but overall US05 has started slow many times for me, and apparently many others since this comes up a lot with US05.

Rev.