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Need help now!

Posted: Thu Dec 10, 2009 5:40 pm
by DGiovanni
My ferment is stuck and the wash is only 5 hours old. Did I pitch the yeast to early? I pitched while the wash was still 110 degrees Fahrenheit (!). I did this before and it worked out but I am getting negative returns now! HELP!

Re: Need help now!

Posted: Thu Dec 10, 2009 5:43 pm
by olddog
What was the recipe? Some times yeast takes a while to get going unless you made a yeast starter it can take 24 hours for the yeast to get going. Leave it for a bit longer and see if it starts.

Re: Need help now!

Posted: Thu Dec 10, 2009 5:47 pm
by DGiovanni
The recipe is as follows:

5 lbs. white sugar
5 lbs. molasses (cooking quality)
1 lime
1 multivitamin
4 gallons bottled spring water
5 oz Montrachet Dry Wine Yeast
7 oz Fleischmann's baking yeast

I started both yeasts in 105 degree water/mash mix and both took well. I pitched both while the wash was a little over 110 degrees F.

??

Re: Need help now!

Posted: Thu Dec 10, 2009 5:53 pm
by olddog
Many times when I put down a wash it will start bubbling straight away and then stop for a while only to restart later. The initial bubbling is usually the oxygen bubbles generating as you make the wash, these eventually die down to be replaces with O2 generated by the fermenting yeast. Like I said in my previous reply leave it for 24 hours and you will probably find it OK.

Re: Need help now!

Posted: Thu Dec 10, 2009 5:55 pm
by DGiovanni
Thanks for the help! I am on a timeline here!

Re: Need help now!

Posted: Thu Dec 10, 2009 6:03 pm
by rubber duck
Shake it up get some oxegen into it.

Re: Need help now!

Posted: Thu Dec 10, 2009 6:21 pm
by LWTCS
Product info on dry active allows for a 115 degree pitch but your wash is borderline too hot to keep or install oxygen.

As rubber duck recommends or pitch more.

Re: Need help now!

Posted: Thu Dec 10, 2009 6:57 pm
by big worm
DGiovanni wrote:Thanks for the help! I am on a timeline here!
a time line??? these things take there time and they don't like being hurryed or pushed along :D

Re: Need help now!

Posted: Thu Dec 10, 2009 7:14 pm
by rad14701
Sure hope the wash didn't heat up and kill the yeast...

Re: Need help now!

Posted: Thu Dec 10, 2009 7:35 pm
by olddog
If heat is the problem, its probably cooled down a bit now after 5-6 hours, pitch some more yeast, the dead yeast will be a neutrient for the new yeast.

Re: Need help now!

Posted: Fri Dec 11, 2009 9:39 am
by LWTCS
By walking slower, it will be possible to arrive sooner.

Re: Need help now!

Posted: Sun Dec 13, 2009 6:51 pm
by DGiovanni
well, it is a slow ferment. my air lock is not bubbling but the wash is fizzing. I added some air (blew bubbles with a tube) and added some cereal to the mix for nutrient. I might just end up being a slow ferment.

Re: Need help now!

Posted: Sun Dec 13, 2009 7:21 pm
by blanikdog
Over half a pound of two yeasts sounds interesting and excessive to me. I use a desertspoon or so of bakers yeast for a five gallon wash. Why two yeasts, dgio?

blanik

Re: Need help now!

Posted: Mon Dec 14, 2009 8:10 am
by pumpman
Also one lime might not get the ph down enough.

Re: Need help now!

Posted: Mon Dec 14, 2009 12:33 pm
by DGiovanni
I meant grams of yeast, not oz! sorry. I might add another lime to the mix. It is going, just not as aggressive as I want it to be. I am adding the juice of one more lime. After that I am not messing with it anymore! :?

Re: Need help now!

Posted: Mon Dec 14, 2009 3:26 pm
by blanikdog
DGiovanni wrote:I meant grams of yeast, not oz! sorry. ...
That sounds better. :) :) :)

blanik