Yeast

Rogue14 · Apr 24, 2011

I just brewed my third batch yesterday. It went pretty well. However, I was just going over my recipe and noticed that it called for two packets of Wyeast 1056 American Ale but I only pitched one.

The beer is a higher gravity beer (1.072) and should end up at 1.017. I have the fermenter sitting in a swamp-like cooler at at temps ranging between 55 F in the evening and 60 F during the day. Fermentation has started.

Given that this is a higher gravity beer, should I go ahead and pitch another packet of 1056 now or should I wait it out and see if these brave yeasties can handle this brew without stalling out? If I decide to wait it out will it help to give the fermenter a good shake once per day and if I do wait it out can I re-pitch later if I find that I don't hit my FG?

Overall, I am not too worried. I am just looking to see what my options are.

Rogue14 · Apr 24, 2011

I should probably also mention that this was a 5 gallon batch and I pitched the yeast at about 70 F.

Pommy · Apr 24, 2011

If you have the yeast then you should really pitch it, however not pitching it will probably not ruin the beer. You want to aerate the wort at the start of fermentation but once it starts fermenting you don't want to add oxygen as it will oxidise the beer.

Smokeater233 · Apr 24, 2011

You might be good to go - how old was the yeast and how large (in grams) was the packet?

Rogue14 · Apr 25, 2011

I am not sure what the date on the packet was. I never thought to look. As for size it was a standard Wyeast smack pack.

erkwist · Apr 25, 2011

You should be fine, I would expect kind of a long lag time and a longer fermentation time with just one pack. Overall it should be ok, personally I would throw another in there before I see signs of fermentation, but if I missed that I would just let it go and not worry about it.

wonderbread23 · Apr 25, 2011

Honestly, once the yeast in your fermenter have gone through their replication / lag phase, I see little point in adding another packet. The yeast in the fermenter vastly out number what is in a single packet, so I'm guessing you'd have diminishing returns at this point.

theredben · Apr 25, 2011

+1 to wonderbread23's statement. What's done is done. Report back in this thread how it turns out!

Rogue14 · Apr 25, 2011

Thanks. I'll sit tight and let you all know how it goes.

Rogue14 · May 5, 2011

Just a quick update...the beer is still slowly fermenting. I took it out of my swamp cooler. I think it was too cold and slowed the fermentation down. I haven't checked gravity yet but there is still a lot of airlock activity.

jafo28 · May 6, 2011

Next time I would suggest making a yeast starter. They're not difficult to do and will save you from having to buy two packs of yeast. You can find many youtube videos on the process or read the sticky in the yeast and fermentation section of the forum.