Wyeast activator didn't pop. What are my options?

[johnboy1313]

Until last night, I had never used liquid yeast. I brewed a three gallon batch of a Dogfish Head Indian Brown Ale clone. I felt around on the package for the activator and gave it a smack. I felt around again and I could still feel the activator in there. I smacked it again and still felt it. So I moved it into the corner of the package and squeezed it. I thought I heard the sound of the activator squirting out it's contents and I couldn't feel the activator anymore from that point on. Four hours later, the bag was barely bloated at all. Being that I had never used a liquid yeast, I didn't know any better. I sanitized the bag and tore it open and poured the contents into the carboy only to then see the activator still sealed in the bottom of the now empty yeast bag. By this time it was late and I wanted to go to bed. I cut the activator bag and dumped the contents in. This morning there's no activity at all. Zilch, none whatsoever.

Should I wait longer?

Should I just go get another Ringwood yeast, have the guy at the brewstore pop it for me, and pour it in on top of the other stuff?

Should I rack the wort into another carboy and pour the new stuff in on top of it?

Or, should I do something else?

Thanks, John

 

[jaycount]

It should be fine.

There may be a lag in fermentation starting since you didn't make a starter. I don't have the numbers in front of me but even for a 3 gallon batch i think you underpitched. With liquid yeast I always make a starter.

My wyeast packs don't always swell, and id rather pitch the yeast without nutrients than risk infection by handling the nutrients outside the smack pack. But I bet you'll be ok there.

What was the born on date on the yeast?

 

[johnboy1313]

Thanks for the reply Jay.

Not sure about the born on date, I'll have to dig the pack out of the trash when i get home this afternoon. Well, that is if the wife hasn't covered it up with coffee grounds and lunch leftovers from the kids.

For now, I'll sit back and wait.

At what point do I decide that the yeast isn't partying like it should? And then, if I do get to that point, can I just pitch in more yeast?

 

[Revvy]

From the horse's mouth.

From the Wyeast FAQ website:

3. Does the package need to be fully swollen before pitching?

No, The package can be pitched before activating, or at anytime during the activation process. The activation process "jump starts" the culture's metabolism, minimizing the lag phase.

Smacking though fun, is never really necessary.

You'll be fine.

Your "option" (which is never an option, just what you should do EVERY time you use liquid yeast) is to make a starter, that way no matter what the situation, whether you have an "expired" pack (Though many of us buy up to year old expired yeast and use it with starters with NO problems) or you don't have an expanded pack, you know you have viability, and plenty of yeast to do the job. Mostly though, you'll have peace of mind. Because if your starter is successful, your beer will be as well.

 

[jaycount]

From the horse's mouth.



Smacking though fun, is never really necessary.

You'll be fine.

Your "option" (which is never an option, just what you should do EVERY time you use liquid yeast) is to make a starter, that way no matter what the situation, whether you have an "expired" pack (Though many of us buy up to year old expired yeast and use it with starters with NO problems) or you don't have an expanded pack, you know you have viability, and plenty of yeast to do the job. Mostly though, you'll have peace of mind. Because if your starter is successful, your beer will be as well.

The man speaks!

Don't bother digging for the pack. I normally make mental note of the date and expect an older pack to take longer. Not a big deal either way

 

[johnboy1313]

Your "option" (which is never an option, just what you should do EVERY time you use liquid yeast) is to make a starter, that way no matter what the situation, whether you have an "expired" pack (Though many of us buy up to year old expired yeast and use it with starters with NO problems) or you don't have an expanded pack, you know you have viability, and plenty of yeast to do the job. Mostly though, you'll have peace of mind. Because if your starter is successful, your beer will be as well.

Just to be clear, in this instance are you suggesting that I get my Delorian time machine out? I swore I'd never do that again after the last time.:rockin:

 

[johnboy1313]

So, I went home at lunch and checked again, there's absolutely no action going whatsoever. It just looks like a carboy of flat soda or something. No foam, nothing. How long should I give it to kick in?

 

[jaycount]

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f39/fermentation-can-take-24-72-hrs-show-visible-signs-43635/

72 hours and then take a gravity check.

 

[DosGatosBrewing]

Should I wait longer?

I did the same thing on my first smack pack -- it took a little longer to start partying, but it worked OK.

 

[rsignell]

Johnboy,

How did this batch turn out in the end?

Did your yeast finally kick in?

I have a similar situation, 1 day in, and I'm wondering what I should do.

-Rich

 

[Revvy]

Johnboy,

How did this batch turn out in the end?

Did your yeast finally kick in?

I have a similar situation, 1 day in, and I'm wondering what I should do.

-Rich

Did you make a starter?

 

[rsignell]

No, like others, when I opened the Wyeast, I found the nutrient pack didn't pop, so I just dumped the yeast into the cooled wart.

From reading other posts, I gather I just need to wait 3 days before panic sets in, but just wanted confirmation that JohnBoy's batch turned out okay, which would allow me to sleep better these next two nights. ;-)

-Rich

 

[jaycount]

You should have made a starter.

But you'll be ok.

 

[SHbrewing]

No, like others, when I opened the Wyeast, I found the nutrient pack didn't pop, so I just dumped the yeast into the cooled wart.

From reading other posts, I gather I just need to wait 3 days before panic sets in, but just wanted confirmation that JohnBoy's batch turned out okay, which would allow me to sleep better these next two nights. ;-)

-Rich

This just happened to me.

 

[parrothead64]

Its happened to me a few times but I make starters so it's fine if it doesn't pop. If that happens, just throw the nutrient pack out. There will be enough nutrients in the wort, the purpose of it was to get things going before they went into the wort. The bigger problem is that you are underpitching. Your beer will be better if you pitch the right amount of yeast, that has been revitalized with a starter. The right amount is almost always more than one pack. Its cheaper,and better for the yeast, to make a starter than it is to buy multiple packs
That said, your beer should still be good. Just make a starter next time. No worries.

 

[Qhrumphf]

I've had this happen a couple times over the years. Also had a few times where there's multiple nutrient packs. I vaguely remember one time where there was no nutrient pack at all. As already quoted up above, Wyeast is explicit that it's not required to break the nutrient pack. White Labs vials don't come with one, either. All they do is get the yeast woken up and active, making for a slightly quicker start, that's all. I basically take it as proofing the yeast. Non-essential, and as long as you're making a starter, you'll know before you brew if the yeast are good to go or not.

As has already been said, you should almost always be making starters with liquid yeast.