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You are here: Home --> Forum Home --> Brewing Forum --> Brewing Discussion --> Halp! Slow start to fermentation

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vinpaysdoc
Charter Member
High Point, NC
321 Posts


What: Vienna Lager 5 gallon batch

Brewed: Saturday (3 days ago)

Yeast: Mexican Lager (WLP940)


Made a starter of this about a 10 days prior to brewing. Life (son) got in the way and it sat in the fridge for a week longer than intended. I pitched it after oxygenating the wort Saturday about 5 pm and set the fermentation temperature to 53 F (Range for yeast 50-55 F). At 24 hours there were no signs of activity and the blow-off tube had negative pressure from the wort cooling down to 53 F initially. Yesterday, 48 hours after pitch, the blow-off tube showed positive pressure but no other signs of fermentation. This morning was the same and I put on a starter of WLP920 (Bavarian Lager Yeast) to save the day. Right now, close to 30 hours post pitch, there are a few patches of krausen and slow bubbling from the airlock.

Not sure why the huge starter I made failed me here. If you can explain, pass on the knowledge.

In the meantime, should I let the Mexican Lager ride or supplement with the Bavarian Lager at high krausen this evening?

Thanks all!
G

3




Posted 34 days ago.

homebrewdad
Charter Member
Birmingham, AL
2480 Posts


Well, you know this is coming... have you taken a gravity reading?  

Did you aerate?  Use yeast nutrient?

I haven't used WLP940, so I can't speak to its activity.
2




Posted 34 days ago.

CentralCalBrewer
Fresno, CA
89 Posts


Maybe boost the temp up just a few degrees?

My recent Classic American Pilsner acted the same way. When I had my chamber set at 52 it was really slow to get going and only dropped .05 after several days. Kicked it up to 58 and it really got rolling.




Posted 34 days ago.

vinpaysdoc
Charter Member
High Point, NC
321 Posts


No gravity reading. No need to since the seal is good and there was negative pressure to begin with.

Yes. 1 minute of pure oxygen. Yes to the nutrient.

I have put the temp up to 155 F as I have been waiting. 

Guess I'll kick it up a little higher.
2




Posted 34 days ago.

Necropaw
Charter Member
Central WI
608 Posts


155?  Bro, you killed teh yeast already!  :P
2




Posted 34 days ago.

homebrewdad
Charter Member
Birmingham, AL
2480 Posts


I dunno.  At this point, I'd take a gravity reading for sanity.  
2




Posted 34 days ago.

vinpaysdoc
Charter Member
High Point, NC
321 Posts


Ooops 55 F.
2




Posted 34 days ago.

testingapril
Charter Member
Atlanta, GA
595 Posts


Ninja krausen.


2




Posted 34 days ago.

KidMoxie
Charter Member
San Elijo Hills, CA
405 Posts


My WLP838 starter seemed to take an extra long time to get moving this time too, but I pitched much colder than I've been able to get this summer. I think the yeast was probably dormant and needed some time to get going again.
2




Posted 34 days ago.

testingapril
Charter Member
Atlanta, GA
595 Posts


I'm going to have to really step up that 940 pitch that Greg gave me after reading this.


2




Posted 34 days ago.

vinpaysdoc
Charter Member
High Point, NC
321 Posts


OK, so most vote for letting it ride? I've upped the temp to 56 F.
2




Posted 34 days ago.

vinpaysdoc
Charter Member
High Point, NC
321 Posts


Make damn sure it's active. I'm finding that my starters take longer to get active the lower the pitch rate I have. When I get close to the 25 mil/ml inoculation rate it seems to take longer.
2




Posted 34 days ago.

homebrewdad
Charter Member
Birmingham, AL
2480 Posts


I pitched a big ol' starter of 820 last night.  I had a nice (for a lager) krausen this morning, and that's with the temp getting a little cooler than I wanted.  

Weirdest krausen I've ever seen, though.  I swear, it was practically orange.
2




Posted 34 days ago.

vinpaysdoc
Charter Member
High Point, NC
321 Posts


Thanks, Olan. Just what I want to hear with a sputtering batch....;-)
2




Posted 34 days ago.

homebrewdad
Charter Member
Birmingham, AL
2480 Posts


Ahem.  Sorry.  That was inconsiderate of me.  ;)
2




Posted 34 days ago.

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