Yeast help needed pronto

Joeyriles · Jan 17, 2016

Morning chaps,

I have started my yeast starter quite late (last night) and I used leftover yeast from the bottom of the bottles of my porter (Hook Norton yeast).

Made up the dme solution and added it to the DJ with the yeast but I'm not sure if it'll be enough (though I'm brewing a fairly weak abv beer.)
Have some dried yeast on standby.

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JapanBrew · Jan 17, 2016

Need more info. How many ml was the solution? Was it 10/1?

Joeyriles · Jan 17, 2016

Yeah, though I made it in a hurry so it wasn't particularly well measured

JapanBrew · Jan 17, 2016

You should be ok. Did you put all of it? I usually split my old yeast.

Joeyriles · Jan 17, 2016

I'm not entirely sure what you mean

mike77 · Jan 17, 2016

"I have started my yeast starter quite late (last night) and I used leftover yeast from the bottom of the bottles of my porter (Hook Norton yeast). "

Yeast from the bottom of bottles would often need to be stepped up i.e. multiple smaller starters increasing in size until you've got enough yeast to make a full starter. It might be that you didn't start with enough viable yeast to make a starter. If I was in doubt I would probably pitch the dry pack

ManseMasher · Jan 17, 2016

+1. Be a shame to go to all the bother of a brew and then for it not to start. Pitch the dry packet (rehydrated?).

Joeyriles · Jan 17, 2016

You're probably right, folks. I'll rehydrate the S04. Thanks!

JapanBrew · Jan 17, 2016

You'd be surprised how quick the yeast get active. I just make it a habit to collect, wash and grow the yeast right after I bottle. I can usually get 3 batches from one FV. prep them and store them in the fridge. If I'm going to brew soon after bottling, up to a week, I just leave the yeast out in sealed maison jars. Currently I have 6 batches in the fridge. Today I took one out about 4 or 5 hours before pitching. When the wort was cooling, I took 150 ml out, chilled it quick and put it into the yeast about an hour before pitching. I don't know if it's the right way but it always works for me. Almost always, within 6 hours there is crazy activity in the FV.