Wyeast 2007 Pilsen not starting

[storytyme]

Hey everyone. I made a 3L starter for an upcoming Pils. I having been manually shaking the container to get the yeast going but absolutely nothing in the first 36 hours. My wort was chilled down to the 50's but I let it get back up to 60's before I pitched.

I am afraid the yeast is too old? It is closing in on 7 months from the manufacture's date. I'm going to aerate it today with my O2 wand and see if that works. Any thoughts?

Go buy a new pack?
If I buy a new pack just dump it into the same wort?

Thanks in advance.

 

[kh54s10]

I think 36 hours is just starting for a hand shaken starter. I would also raise the temperature of the starter to room temperature. You want to increase cell count not control beer fermentation for flavor.

I bet it starts soon, but if you get a new pack you can add it to the starter as long as your sanitation is good.

 

[storytyme]

So I get back from a weekend away and when I left Sat morning there were very few tiny bubbles that did not last long. It looks as if a yeast cake is at the bottom, but there was zero krausen what so ever. Should I take a gravity reading? What should it be? I don't want to assume it is good to go and then brew a batch and throwing in a dead fake yeast cake. What should I do??

 

[divrack]

You don't really get the same kind of kreusen from lager yeast or starters in general. Test the gravity. If it's worked it works

 

[storytyme]

So I tested it and with an estimated starting gravity of around 1.039, it is now at 1.013. I assume my yeast cake is legit and ready to rock? Thanks.

 

[Jayjay1976]

So I tested it and with an estimated starting gravity of around 1.039, it is now at 1.013. I assume my yeast cake is legit and ready to rock? Thanks.

Yes, sounds like your yeast have finished their appetizer and are now ready for the main course! Good luck!

 

[storytyme]

Sweet. Brewday Thursday!