MJ M84 Bohemian Lager- Serious Lag.

[Lawrence22]

I brewed a lager on Tuesday and pitched 2 packs of MJ M84 in 23L at 18C (O.G. 1.054) let it stand for an hour before cooling to 10C. I know that this yeast has a tendency to lag, used it once before myself but this morning this hasn't budged at all, I took a gravity reading to confirm. I gave it a really good stir about before pitching yeast so there should be plenty of O2 in there. Anyone else experience a lag this long with this yeast? will be 72 hours by 2pm. Yeast was best before 04/20.

 

[BeerCat]

This is quite normal. I used 2 packs on about 28l of 1045 wort and it took about 72 hours to get going. The good news is the beer still tasted great. Last batch i used 3.3g of yeast but i generally use the slurry. I pitch at least a litre and fermentation normally starts within 24 hours. If i am lucky within 12. You could bump up the temp a few degrees which should help it get going, it wont affect the flavour as far as i can tell. I have some fermenting at 10c and some 12c.

 

[Lawrence22]

Thanks for that. I've used it before and it lagged but not this much. I have bumped it up to 14 to try and kick start it, and will drop back to 12 when going.

 

[BeerCat]

The MJ Bavarian was slow to get going as well. I remember at the time thinking i should of used 4 packs. I think the cold temps prohibit any nasty flavours though so its just a matter of patience. I have 5 FV's full now so i don't have to stress out about it.

 

[chthon]

I brewed a bock last week, and pitched the MJ84 yeast directly on top of the wort, at 17°, then put it in a chamber where the temperature was 10°. I actually got activity the next day, something in the rate of one bubble every 20 seconds.

What I did have was that the transfer of the wort had created foam, and that a whole lot of the yeast was still floating on top of the wort after two days because of this, although it was hydrated. After I stirred it in with a disinfected spoon, the speed of the fermentation went up after a couple of hours.

Finished at 1,016, expected 1,015. Since I will lager it for a week or 6, I suppose that the last point will still be nibbled off.

 

[Lawrence22]

80 hours after pitching and eventually have first signs of fermentation.

 

[BeerCat]

Long time but at least it's going now. I would save the slurry and pitch the whole lot next time.
I have been impatiently waiting for one of mine to start. Nothing after 24 hours then I realised I have a micro leak and it only bubbles when fermentation is flat out. I am drinking a beer from the same fv now and it's not oxidised so all is good.