Spicy Ghost

[Divewombat]

Hey Guys thanks for the help with the first lager, been drinking it for a couple of weeks and tastes great.

I am pretty sure I'm just after a bit of reassurance here, I started a Cascade spicy ghost yesterday, originally I planned to use SafLager yeast and ferment in the fridge again but got home to find that I need cold drinks for next weekend and don't want to chill my wort to 4C. So I used the yeast supplied with the kit. The pack called it "bohemian yeast". Ok the problem is I have only very mild condensation on the lid of the fermenter and a layer of sediment on the bottom of the fermenter.

Vital statistics.
can Cascade spicy ghost
can of 1kg Muntons liquid light lager malt
20 g Hallertau hops boiled for ten mins in the malt and water
20g additional hallertau for ten mins while the malt and water chilled in the pot in a ice bath.

Fermemter filled to 23lts and yeast pitched at 24 C Fermenter sealed and when you squeeze the sides the airlock water level moves so I'm happy with the seal.
O/G 1036

one question I have is would it be wise to pitch more yeast if no action is noticed in the next couple of days and what kind I have a sachet of yeast from the brewcraft Munich lager kit I didn't use.

I'm Hoping I'm just panicking for nothing and prob am but every brew (the last three) have all shown more action than this.

[timmy]

The Bohemian yeast can take a while to get going. Don't stress about it too much.... Even if your seal isn't 100%, you can always check by doing a SG measurement. The 'squeeze the fermenter' trick doesn't always indicate that the seal is OK - quite often there's a slow leak that is hard to detect. If you have krausen on top (the foamy stuff) it's a good indication that fermentation has started.

You should have a nice brew there.

Cheers,

Tim

[Divewombat]

Ok thanks for the reply Tim

I just opened it up to take a quick peek and the top is clear with one little tiny bubble patch about 5mm across and nothing else. Been over two days now and the temp has dropped to 20-22 on the thermometer should i try bringing the temp up alittle?

[KEG]

wait another day i reckon.

[Kevnlis]

A bohemian lager yeast would be bottom fermenting and would not give as vigorous a result as the Coopers yeast you may be used to. I must say if you have ideas of drinking this beer one week after pitching you may not be very impressed with the result, especially when fermenting at 24C!

[Boonie]

It does take a while to get going, even at higher temps.

Should have started by today given you put it down on Friday.

Take a hydrometer reading to check before throwing another yeast in.

Cheers

Boonie

[Divewombat]

A bohemian lager yeast would be bottom fermenting and would not give as vigorous a result as the Coopers yeast you may be used to. I must say if you have ideas of drinking this beer one week after pitching you may not be very impressed with the result, especially when fermenting at 24C!

Thanks kev must have given you the wrong impression I'm not wanting to drink it a week after starting the brew and I will take your advice about it being a shocker after only a week. lol The one i was drinking was my first brew that I got advice form you guys on thats what may have given the impression i was drinking a pretty green beer.

Nah was just stressing cause its not giving me any indications its fermenting no Krausen or other visible signs its doing anything, if the bohemian yeast is a bottom fermenter i will slow down on the worry as the sediment layer appears to be getting thicker on the bottom of the fermenter. The temp has dropped to below 20C now should I warm it up or keep letting it cool down further?

Thanks for the help so far guys.

[Kevnlis]

I would try not to let it get below 16C or so, it may stress the yeast which have adapted to the higher temps, it is more important to try to hold a constant temp so if you can do that then go for it. If the sediment layer at the bottom has gotten thicker the yeast is doing exactly as it should.

[Divewombat]

Kev do you think it would be worth while taking a hydrometer reading I had another look and think I may been dreaming when I thought it had gotten a bit thicker or is the sediment layer evidence enough to say its itself fermenting?

[Kevnlis]

Yeah definitely take a gravity reading! No better way to tell what is happening inside your fermentor IMHO.

[Divewombat]

Ok just filled my test flash a bit quick and have a nice head on it and a lot of little bubbles rising from the depths, I will have to wait for the foam to die down to get the reading but I'm now a lot less stressed.

and doing a bit of reading on Bohemian yeast it would appear it is a very slow starter and can run down to about 14C according to the cascade site. I will whack a light in the cupboard with the fermenter to give it some love and see what happens.Got my reading it has gone from 1036 to 1030 so Im a happy lil wombat now.

[earle]

The Cascade yeast can definitely be a slow starter. I put down a twocan porter Sunday afternoon using the Bohemian yeast and only heard the reassuring bloop bloop start this morning. I've used it before but I didn't expect it to take so long when the ambient temps up here are around 30-32 during the day.

[Divewombat]

Yeah i can understand, Mine has almost five days up now and the airlock has no ploppage at all and when i reset it yesterday after taking the hydrometer reading the water level has not leveled off so i think the fermenter is currently in a very weak negative pressure. lol the joys of learning how to brew and if nothing Im learning patience I never thought I had.

[Divewombat]

we finally have krausen on my brew after only five days. it looked lovely and foamy in a nice light brown color. I feel I can finally be sure its fermenting and not just sitting there taking up space in my brew cupboard. Still no bubbles and I would like bubbles might record the sound and play it to it to give it inspiration.

[warra48]

we finally have krausen on my brew after only five days. it looked lovely and foamy in a nice light brown color. I feel I can finally be sure its fermenting and not just sitting there taking up space in my brew cupboard. Still no bubbles and I would like bubbles might record the sound and play it to it to give it inspiration.

So, let's get one thing straight here.
Do you want to be a sound engineer, or a brewer......??
Don't fret over the lack of bubble sounds, it looks like you'll make a good beer anyway.

[Divewombat]

Thanks Warra

Was just thinking if it works for plants ......................

[SpillsMostOfIt]

Thanks Warra

Was just thinking if it works for plants ......................

What are you saying? That the sound of a water pipe makes plants grow better?