The_Huisvrouw
Member
OK, I won't bore you with all the tales of what went wrong as I brewed today, but I could just cry about the end of the story:
Was trying to make a Saison. Had some trouble locating Wyeast 3724 and then when I did find and order it, it had to come clear across country. It was in transit for 4 days on about the hottest week of the summer. And I've never used a smackpack before.
Anyhow, I'll be danged if I didn't truly believe that the little nutrient pack had arrived broken. The package was swollen an inch or two (the husband says I exaggerate and it was one at best) and I couldn't feel a little bladder in there. So I had it out on the counter all afternoon, hoping for the best, as I prepared the wort.
And then, at the moment of truth, I opened up the yeast package and found the bladder intact. What could I do? With the wort all cooled and in the fermenter, I had no time for making a starter. I panicked, and threw it all in there and closed down the lid.
The back of the package says to break the nutrient pouch and incubate it for a couple of hours "or immediately direct pitch into wort." That last part would be reassuring, except that all of you are all about starters and prudence.
I killed it, didn't I?
Was trying to make a Saison. Had some trouble locating Wyeast 3724 and then when I did find and order it, it had to come clear across country. It was in transit for 4 days on about the hottest week of the summer. And I've never used a smackpack before.
Anyhow, I'll be danged if I didn't truly believe that the little nutrient pack had arrived broken. The package was swollen an inch or two (the husband says I exaggerate and it was one at best) and I couldn't feel a little bladder in there. So I had it out on the counter all afternoon, hoping for the best, as I prepared the wort.
And then, at the moment of truth, I opened up the yeast package and found the bladder intact. What could I do? With the wort all cooled and in the fermenter, I had no time for making a starter. I panicked, and threw it all in there and closed down the lid.
The back of the package says to break the nutrient pouch and incubate it for a couple of hours "or immediately direct pitch into wort." That last part would be reassuring, except that all of you are all about starters and prudence.
I killed it, didn't I?