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Author Topic: Too warm to have added yeast?  (Read 6671 times)

Offline ptbobrewer

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Too warm to have added yeast?
« on: February 14, 2011, 07:22:04 am »
Hey  guys.

New brewer here, just did my first brew last night. It was a kit in a can - just a big can of syrup and a small packet of yeast.
I followed all the instructions to a 'T', but once I combined everything in the fermenter, it was taking extremely long to come down to the 18-21 degrees that it recommended. It sat outside for probably 3 hours, and was still at 24 or so at 1:30am. Needless to say, I had to go to bed. I added the yeast at that point, and my question is: Did I just ruin the whole process? I know yeast is pretty sensitive, but I didn't have any other choice besides to add the yeast to the 24 degree mixture.

Should I wait and see how things proceed over the next few days? Or should I just toss the batch and start again, making sure to properly cool the mix before adding the yeast?

Thanks in Advance

Offline jamminbrew

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Re: Too warm to have added yeast?
« Reply #1 on: February 14, 2011, 07:29:21 am »
I once had to do the same thing, and it turned out ok, but I might have been lucky.  Next time, try cooling the wort down by placing the fermenter in a sink filled with ice and water. 
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Offline dak0415

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Re: Too warm to have added yeast?
« Reply #2 on: February 14, 2011, 08:08:38 am »
24c is 75f and that is certainly NOT going to damage your yeast.  If the fermenter then had a chance to cool further you should not have any issues.  24c is not an optimal fermentation temp 19-20c is good, though.  What brand/strain of yeast are you using?  What is your wort temp now?  Do you see any activity in the fermenter?
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Offline cheba420

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Re: Too warm to have added yeast?
« Reply #3 on: February 14, 2011, 08:34:14 am »
When I first started I bought one of those back yard party buckets (the plastic ones you put a keg in when you're having a party). I'd fill it about a third of the way up with water and then float 4-6 frozen water bottles in it. You place your fermenter in that water bath, watch the temp and pull the water bottles out when you hit your desired temp. Very inexpensive and a pretty efficient way to cool your wort down to pitching temps. Good luck!
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Offline a10t2

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Re: Too warm to have added yeast?
« Reply #4 on: February 14, 2011, 08:40:39 am »
Air is an extremely poor conductor of heat, relative to pretty much anything else you have lying around the house. As has already been said, putting the kettle in a tub or sink full of cold water will chill it much more quickly.

Also, even 21°C is pretty warm for pitching and fermentation. Keeping it at 18°C would be much better.
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Offline maxieboy

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Re: Too warm to have added yeast?
« Reply #5 on: February 14, 2011, 11:31:27 am »
Air is an extremely poor conductor of heat, relative to pretty much anything else you have lying around the house. As has already been said, putting the kettle in a tub or sink full of cold water will chill it much more quickly.

Also, even 21°C is pretty warm for pitching and fermentation. Keeping it at 18°C would be much better.

+1 Your yeast liked it, your beer maybe not as much. Good luck with this and future brews!
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Offline ptbobrewer

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Re: Too warm to have added yeast?
« Reply #6 on: February 14, 2011, 08:25:53 pm »
24c is 75f and that is certainly NOT going to damage your yeast.  If the fermenter then had a chance to cool further you should not have any issues.  24c is not an optimal fermentation temp 19-20c is good, though.  What brand/strain of yeast are you using?  What is your wort temp now?  Do you see any activity in the fermenter?

Thanks for the fast answers EVERYONE! This is obviously a very active forum!

Once I added the yeast, the fermenter did have a chance to slowly cool to room temp. I'm not sure of the brand of yeast, it was just whatever came with a 'Munstons' Canadian Style Ale Kit. I checked my wort today, and it seems to be bubbling away happily.

Thanks again everyone.

Offline ndcube

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Re: Too warm to have added yeast?
« Reply #7 on: February 15, 2011, 05:54:21 am »
For future batches, you would have been bette off to let it sit overnight and pitch in the morning or later on the next day.  As long as things are sanitary another 12 hours or so won't hurt your wort.

Also, Fermenting in a tub of water to keep the temp consistent was a good suggestion.  The yeast will give off heat.  Room temp is also a little warm.

Offline tomsawyer

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Re: Too warm to have added yeast?
« Reply #8 on: February 15, 2011, 06:09:18 am »
Room temp is also a little warm.


Not at my house, after the last heating bill we lowered from 65F to 60F.  With a cover or sweater its OK but I kind of feel like I'm being lagered.  Great ale fermenting temp, my beers are taking noticeably longer to carb up though.

I do generally use a swamp cooler without the evaporation, just as a sink to maintain a more constant temp during ferm.  Works like a charm in the summer.
Lennie
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Offline ndcube

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Re: Too warm to have added yeast?
« Reply #9 on: February 15, 2011, 06:19:11 am »
Room temp is also a little warm.


Not at my house, after the last heating bill we lowered from 65F to 60F.  With a cover or sweater its OK but I kind of feel like I'm being lagered.  Great ale fermenting temp, my beers are taking noticeably longer to carb up though.

I do generally use a swamp cooler without the evaporation, just as a sink to maintain a more constant temp during ferm.  Works like a charm in the summer.

Yikes.  My wife wouldn't hve that.  I brew based on my basement temps:
Upper 40's for lagering in the winter.
70ish for Belgian's in the summer (have to use a swamp cooler with ice packks to start).
There is a window in the spring/fall where it's good for other ales that I brew.

Offline majorvices

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Re: Too warm to have added yeast?
« Reply #10 on: February 15, 2011, 10:32:24 am »
I keep my house at 58 during the winter. What are you guys trying to do, cook your selves? ;)

Offline tschmidlin

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Re: Too warm to have added yeast?
« Reply #11 on: February 15, 2011, 10:36:30 am »
There's no way that would fly around here.  69F in winter.  Of course it helps that it's usually somewhere in the 40s in the winter here.
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Offline majorvices

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Re: Too warm to have added yeast?
« Reply #12 on: February 15, 2011, 10:46:22 am »
Man up, fellas. Put on a sweater or something.

Offline tschmidlin

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Re: Too warm to have added yeast?
« Reply #13 on: February 15, 2011, 11:39:08 am »
Why?  My heating bill is probably still less than yours ;)

Besides, my wife sits around in the 69F house fully dressed including a sweater with shoes on, and under a blanket if she's on the couch. :)
Tom Schmidlin

Offline bluesman

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Re: Too warm to have added yeast?
« Reply #14 on: February 15, 2011, 12:34:24 pm »
I have the opposite problem Tom...I'm the one who's usually cold and the wife is always hot. We keep the house at 68F.

68F is comfortable to me.
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