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Newbie Yeast Question

Hello,

I ordered ingredients for an extract Russian Imperial Stout recipe.

The box came a few days later, but I let it sit for two more weeks until I was ready to make the beer.

Upon opening the box, I realized that the liquid yeast (in a gold package requiring the bladder to be broken) had a cold-pack next to it, and the envelope said to keep it refridgerated until ready to use (which I didn't!).

To make thing worse, I didn't let it incubate for more than 3 hours and didn't see much sign of "blowing-up" going on in the gold package.

I put the yeast in anyway and, a week later, there doesn't seem to be any activity.

Should I assume that the yeast wasn't viable?

Do I still have time to purchase new yeast and get it going again?

Thanks so much for your advice!

Steve

Reply to
Steve
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#1 rule is always wait for the pack to swell and then make a starter for liquid yeast. Then you know it's viable and have an adequate cell count for fermentation. An Impy Stout is a high gravity beer and REALLY needs that starter. I think you've got a combo of not very viable yeast and underpitching. If it's been a week with no fermenation, you might be in trouble. But I'd pitch 2 packs of dry yeast in there to see what happens. Dry yeast is cheap enough that you don't have much to lose by trying.

--------->Denny

Reply to
Denny Conn

Reply to
Steve

First, relax. Have a homebrew. :)

Now, if I were you, I would probably buy new yeast, make a starter with it, and pitch. But if you want to play it risky, you could try to raise the temp of your beer about 10 degrees and aerate the wort in the hopes to get it going. A stout has a high IG so its going to want pretty healthy yeast.

Steve

Steve wrote:

Reply to
Steven Hay

Well, the yeast came back from the dead. There's finally a lot of activity in the carboy!

Woohoo!

Reply to
Steve

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