dead yeast or temp too low?

[croc4]

I brewed up a 5 gal batch this past Sunday, I used WPL001, everything went smoothly, The only problem was that I forgot to make a starter, so I just pitched in the tube. Well 48Hrs later there is little to no activity, there is some (yeast I think) sediment floating in patches on top of the beer, but the air lock it not bubbling. But there is positive pressure in the carboy by looking at the airlock.

I have not used this yeast before, so I am not sure if it ferments out differently than others (I would think it would be the same)

The other strange thing is that when I opened the tube I did not get the release of pressure I have seen on other tubes of yeast.

The other thing I thought of as a potential problem is the temp, it is sitting at ~66-68 deg, it "should" be ok, but it is a little on the low side for this yeast.

ideas?

p.s
Sorry for the long post
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[YamahaXS]

questions:

was the yeast cold (refrigerator temps) when you pitched it? That would explain the lack of pressure in the tube, and might also explain the slow take off because you might of shocked the yeast to much.

what was your OG? for a higher gravity beer, you should probably go ahead and make a new starter and pitch it asap.

[croc4]

I took the tube out before I started brewing, so it had reached room temp for at least ~20-30mins before I pitched it, not optimal I know.

The OG was 1.059
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[YamahaXS]

Originally posted by croc4
I took the tube out before I started brewing, so it had reached room temp for at least ~20-30mins before I pitched it, not optimal I know.

The OG was 1.059


i dunno, i think you should be seeing more activity.... It will probably turn out alright if you just let it go, but it wouldn't hurt to pitch a new starter.

[mmmBeer...]

Looks to me like your temp is too low. I just made an ale with the same yeast last night…the optimal temp is 68-73* for the WLP001. I had the start of bubbles this am (pitched straight from the vial at 9 pm last night) on the top of the wort and my temp was about 70*

[croc4]

Thanks guys, I'll start a starter tonight, and I'll try to see what I can do about the temp
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[Beerconnoisseur]

...how old was this yeast? If you ordered it a while back, fermentation may not take off as soon as if it were fresh. Using any yeast past the expiration date with no starter is begging for trouble.

Also, if the wort is really high in fermentables, then the yeast may just be building up the energy to go to work. However... if these aren't the culprits, and you aerated the wort enough, then you may want to re-pitch and raise the temp, ASAP.

[croc4]

I checked the yeast vial before pitching, and if I recall it was still ok, I purchased it only a few days before using, not that that is a guarentee...

If when I get home there is no activity I'll repitch some yeast and try to get the temps up
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[croc4]

Update

So I warmed up the carboy with the brew belt, and noting seemed to happen after about an hour, then I decided to just go ahead and ptich in some more yeast (dry). within minutes I started seeing some activity in the airlock, I don't think the dry yeast would work that fast, so it must have been the original yeast I pitched finally started.


I also made a starter from the small amount of yeast left in the original tube of yeast after I pitched it initally. It took a while to start but it looks like the yeast is indeed ok, but it very slow starting.... it seems to behave a little different from the other yeasts I have used.
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[DarCoop]

I have a question about warming up fermenter. If i do not have a "brew belt" and I do not want to turnn heat up too high, can I put an electric heating pad under carboy or partially under it? Or maybe put a towel over heating pad to cut down on some of the heat transfer. I thought since the heating pad is something most people have at house and rarely use, it may work.
Anyone try this?

[croc4]

can't speak from experience, but it should work fine, as long as it keeps it below 70f.

Anyone else?
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[toneyc]

I dunno what your heating pad runs at, but I know that mine, on high, gets over 100*F. That sucker gets uncomfortably hot. I have not tried mine on the lowest setting, though. (chronic back problems) But like Croc4 said, as long as it doesn't cause the brew to get over 70-ish, it should be OK. I don't know if a 100*F belt would heat a 5-gallon carboy or bucket of 60*F brew too much. Where does it equalize?

[Edit] You know, it might be enough just to put a heat lamp in your brew cubby.

:)
Toney.

[DarCoop]

[i]
[Edit] You know, it might be enough just to put a heat lamp in your brew cubby.

:)
Toney. [/B]

I keep my carboy in a closet and thought about a heat lamp, but everything I read says keep it in dark. I guess keeping t-shirt on carboy will take care of keeping light out.

May not be needed here. Winter may end next week, who knows. I am making a dobbelbock with lager yeast so appreciate the lower temps I have had lately. I was just wondering if anyone had tried that--just in case i need heat in there. Thanks

[YamahaXS]

Darcoop, fill a carboy with water, and test teh electric pad idea first. My feeling is that it will get too hot.

[DarCoop]

Originally posted by YamahaXS
Darcoop, fill a carboy with water, and test teh electric pad idea first. My feeling is that it will get too hot.

WHy didn't I think of that? Thanks
I guess that is why I hang out in here.