Dead yeast in the fermenter... any hope?

In short, yes it is safe to add more yeast.

For more details, we'll need to know more ... when was "the other day" ? What is it fermenting in (carboy, bucket?)?

Do you not see any krausen/foaming, etc., or do you just not have activity in the airlock?

If you are using a plastic bucket, it is possible that it is fermenting but the lid isn't on tightly... therefore no airlock activity.

Finally... you should take a gravity measurement to be positive that it isn't fermenting.

Derric

IMHO:

I'm wondering if you might be tossing away good money after bad.

I would use a highly santized spoon, and aeroate the wort. Then pitch in one packet of dry yeast. If you have no activity for a a couple days, it might be time to toss the wort onto the compost heap.

good luck,

tom @

If you are using a fermenting bucket, pour the wort from it's bucket to another to get it well aerated and wait for a while. If you use a carboy, shake or stir it well to get air into the wort. And if it still doesn't start fermenting, you can pitch in another yeast.

Oh, and be absolutely sure that your brew hasn't started fermenting before you pour it from bucket to bucket...

Rousing would be a good idea but if the yeast has carked it you need to be careful not to destroy the wort with autolysised yeast - so I'd rouse and observe for 24 hours and then let it settle some and rack to a clean fermenter to get the wort off the yeast cake - then add fresh yeast and prey to the brewgods!!

Any results yet?

tom @