Stir Yeast! !!

[sidicanio]

I'm on my third brew after two relatively successful lagers, the second being a wilco pilsner which has has made me decide never to by beer from a supermarket again !

My third is a Coopers lager, I've pitched it exactly the same as the first but the yeast has just sat on the top rather than dropping like the first Coopers I did. Approx 24hrs at 20c. I know they use ale yeast but in my previous two lagers the yeast has dropped quickly.

So, I decided to give a quick stir tonight, have I ballsed up my first brew ?

First post on here, without wanting to sound like a sap I've gained a massive amount of knowledge from posts. Thanks to all that have !

 

[oldbloke]

I think I'd have given it a stir when pitching. Was there any sign of it doing anything at all?
It's unlikely that a bit of a stir has ballsed it up, but I'd have expected the yeast to do /something/ in 24 hours.
Report back in another 24!

 

[prolix]

yeast still floating after 24 hrs? I just sprinkle mine on the top, it tends to soak up the beer and within that time there is normally some action (light bubbles or foam), though not massive.

Rousing/stirring this early won't effect the beer at all.

Keep us posted over the next 24hrs.

Do you have any other yeast just in case?

 

[carl_saint]

I wouldn't worry about the stir, should be fine! Has fermentation started? If so then just leave it for a few weeks and it'll be fine! If not then you may wanna think about getting some more yeast.

 

[kev]

You really should be rehydrating dry yeast. Will stop this happening.

K

 

[carl_saint]

Kev is the man in the know about yeast so listen to him!

 

[sidicanio]

The yeast was just sat on top like a thin layer of sediment (only way I could describe it!), nothing much was going on at all.

Regardless, I've checked it today and the brew has gone into overdrive ! I think fermentation has begun.

Thanks for the reassurance.

How do you hydrate yeast before pitching ?.......... just when you think your starting to learn !!!!!

 

[kev]

Boil kettle and let cool. Sterilise a cup. Put yeast and 100ml cooled water in cup 15mins before you need it. Drop in brew.

Will take about 24hrs off your lag time.

K

 

[Duxuk]

I'll definately rehydrate my yeast next time. Thanks for the tip.
Another reason for a slow start could be a lack of aeration before the yeast was added. A good whisk seems to get the yeast going quicker because yeast needs oxygen, apparently.

 

[sidicanio]

I thought it might not of started because the yeast was sat on top of the froth after my vigorous stirring !

I should probably post this separately, but, I've just popped my forest fruits cider into the garden wrapped in a few bags and a towel. With the temps dropping to -5 is this a good idea ?

 

[Zedilly]

Boil kettle and let cool. Sterilise a cup. Put yeast and 100ml cooled water in cup 15mins before you need it. Drop in brew.

Will take about 24hrs off your lag time.

K

Is this the same for all yeasts including those with nutrients and other stuff in them?