...Nothing appears to be happening - advice please

[Firkin Idiot]

Hi all,

A friend from over the road (Pash the Mash) and I recently purchased a micro kit with Norfolk Nog/Wherry from H-B-O.

On sunday we followed the instructions to the T but as of yet (3 days later) neither of us are seeing any signs of fermentation!?.....heart-breaking stuff :|

I bought an immersion heater for mine which has been keeping it at about 24 degrees which i understand to be slightly on the warm side but i thought that this would only speed things up a bit rather that giving no results whatsoever.

A friend at work reported that his usually start almost straight away but have also done abit of reading on here and some have reported a delayed start....but we're starting to get a bit worried now and it seems really weird that both of them are inactive?!?

I've given mine a strir.....nothing.
Turned the heater off to drop the temp a bit....nothing.

has anyone had symptoms like this? is it common and am i just worrying about nothing?

Im starting to think that it could be something in the water in our neck of the woods!

Thanks for any advice - much appreciated

FI

 

[tubby_shaw]

Depending on how the kit has been stored in the warehouse/shop and how close to the BBE date it is the yeast may well be kaput
Get hold of another beer yeast asap and re pitch.
Keep the wort covered and as cold as possible until you can get a new yeast into it :thumb:
Good luck with it :

 

[Firkin Idiot]

Hi, thanks for the speedy reply.

Will get some yeast today then and repitch tonight. am a little concerned about leaving it sitting there doing nothing incase it starts turning chatty.

With adding extra yeast will that mean that it will taste 'bready' and need more conditioning/resting?

Will any old yeast do? was planning on popping into Wilcoses to grab a couple of sachets.............

FI

 

[tubby_shaw]

Will get some yeast today then and repitch tonight. am a little concerned about leaving it sitting there doing nothing incase it starts turning chatty.

Stop worrying, there's nothing you can do about that

With adding extra yeast will that mean that it will taste 'bready' and need more conditioning/resting?

No it won't taste "bready" if you leave the beer in the fermenting bin for a few days after fermentation has finished, most of the yeast will drop out of suspension and the yeast will consume some of the by products of fermentation that can give off flavours :thumb:

Will any old yeast do? was planning on popping into Wilcoses to grab a couple of sachets.............

No :nono: if you want your beer to taste like beer then you need to use a beer/ale yeast :thumb:

 

[PashTheMash]

Well, I've just added the Ale Yeast that Firkin and I have just blagged, given her a little stir and put her to bed. Everything is crossed!!!! :pray:

Bit of a slow start to my first brew, but enjoying it all the same. From all the posts I've read on here, this situ must be a few and far between. All the same, it's reassuring to know that there is help out there. Will try and keep you posted on a positive outcome.

PtM

 

[tubby_shaw]

Just noticed your location
I did a year at the Technical college there back in the day :geek:
I remember stepping off of the train and getting a lung full of mint from the Trebor factory

Good luck with the brew :thumb:

 

[PashTheMash]

Thanks TS, feels a bit like I'm needing it at the mo, didn't realise how emotional this game is!!!!

The days of Trebor are long gone, they skittled that place about 5 years ago, just rubble and wasteland now. How I miss the smell of Fruit Salad and Blackjacks wafting through town. I take it you are reasonably local then?

PtM

 

[tubby_shaw]

I am a Leeds lad
But I live south of Brum now :)

 

[PashTheMash]

Sorry to hear that!!!! :lol:

Seriously though, great part of the country. I did a stint up your neck too, down the road at Uddersfeeled in my student days, had some good times up there. My love for my home town was too strong though so was inevitable I'd end up back here.

I'm really new to this but must say I'm meeting some good folk on here, it's quite the little community.

PtM

 

[PashTheMash]

Right, despite both myself and Firkin adding more ale yeast last night to try and re-pitch our brews, nada, nothing.

I've gone through everything and have noticed that our fv's don't appear to be entirely airtight, which probably explains why both brews seem pretty flat. This now brings me to ask 2 questions:

1. Is it imperative that the fv is airtight?

and....

2. Will the fact that I've added a further dose of yeast to the brew affect it in any detrimental way?

The fv I am using is just a simple bucket and lid version bought off H-B-O. Does anybody know if this is common in this purchase?

I'm starting to sound desperate now aren't I? :lol:

 

[Baz Chaz]

Might be worth giving it a vigorous stir, get a bit of air into the for the yeasties :thumb:

I had a slow starter the other week, nothing within 24 hours which was unusual, but as soon as I gave it a good whisk it was off like a good 'un :thumb:

 

[tubby_shaw]

Right, despite both myself and Firkin adding more ale yeast last night to try and re-pitch our brews, nada, nothing.

I've gone through everything and have noticed that our fv's don't appear to be entirely airtight, which probably explains why both brews seem pretty flat. This now brings me to ask 2 questions:

1. Is it imperative that the fv is airtight?

and....

2. Will the fact that I've added a further dose of yeast to the brew affect it in any detrimental way?

The fv I am using is just a simple bucket and lid version bought off H-B-O. Does anybody know if this is common in this purchase?

I'm starting to sound desperate now aren't I? :lol:

Are you trying to judge fermentation by airlock activity ?
There is no need for an FV to be airtight :)
Adding another sachet of yeast will have no detrimental effect :thumb:

 

[PashTheMash]

Yeah, I'll have to admit that I have been sort of relying on the airlock as an indicator for brewing activity

Well that's reassuring news regarding the fv and yeast, think I'll just sit it out and see what she brings, and if nowt, I'll whisk her up a bit.

Ta for the prompt posts TS & BC

 

[tubby_shaw]

Crack open the lid, if there is froth/bubbles on the surface then it's fermenting :thumb:

 

[PashTheMash]

Bubbles

Hardly in the champagne category but slow rising bubbles!! Wouldn't say that there is an abundance mind, just a few small, slow rising bubbles.

This sound about right?

 

[tubby_shaw]

Yep :party:

 

[Firkin Idiot]

FI by name...FI by nature :lol:

will have to do the hydrometer reading tonight so fingers crossed eh...if its still hop cordial its going down the bog and im starting again but i've got a feeling it might be okay! (its too much of a coincidence that both of ours have not done anything eh PashMash)

We've been expecting air lock action as the fv's did appear to be air tight but when i put a weight on top of the lid the airlock initially went up but then settled a second or so later that = air leak in my book!

not really noticed any froth on top either - was expecting something a bit more 'cappuchino' to form on the surface where-as its pretty much just liquid now.

Have also only had the dramatic results of the cider fermentation to base things on and that has been bubbling like jacuzzi for a week now in a totally air tight DJ.

will let you know how the Hydro session goes........cheers