Aussiedistiller, Home Distilling, Moonshine, Home Brew

Hi guys I have just put another brew down around 12 today I have used 12kgs of sugar and 2 packets of vodka star yeast in a 60 l fermenter and filled up to the 50l mark still no action no bubbles have I done something wrong could someone please help should I use another half packet of yeast I also have a heater belt on the brew

Thank you in advance

Bit short on imfo there DPJ did you put in any nutrient in with the wash ? or perhaps temp was to high when you pitched the yeast . If there is no added nutrients in there maybe put 100 or so grams of tomato past in , if your not sure of the temp the do both ;-)

Whats the current temp of the wash? I've got a couple of un-used packets of it here and it shouldn't need any nutrients they are already in there. Also check the best before date on the packets, they may be duds.

Just had another look on the pack and it says for making more than 25l the start temp should be 20-25c instead of 30c if you were doing a 25l wash.

The temp was 25 and the use by date is 2014 so I don't know what's going on

Yeah that is weird. I'm going to put one on tomorrow for shits and giggles to see what it's like so I'll see if it works for me.

I might just c how it goes over night if still no action I will add another packet of yeast to the brew

yeah well if its not kicking try adding some nutes either that or ya yeast is shagged , tell ya what put in TP and the rest of ya yeast bit of a waste to ditch the wash
EDIT posted the same time :))

Just had a look now it has slowly started to bubble now

Mate
if you a sure about the accuracy of your temp measuring device and sure that the fementer is/was suitably clean and sure that you are measuring bubbling 'activity' (or lack thereof) correctly...then 'by morning' is a good call re your expectation of fermentation.
BTW, Qld.Andy is a longterm, happy VodkaStar user (all I know is the nutrients are supposed to be in 'the mix').

Wouldnt be too concerned mate, like you said leave it overnight, some of my washes don't get firing properly until about 24 hours.

If you don't make a proper yeast starter (I don't) then it will take longer :handgestures-thumbupleft:

Dont be to fussed my 60l fermenters are real fuckers i struggle to get them to seal properly.
maybe check the SG for a day or two you'll soon know if it fermenting or not :handgestures-thumbupleft:

Just checked it and we are full steam ahead now going like crazy

Just thought id add my 2c.

I added yeast straight from the fridge on my second wash ever and it did nothing till the next day, I will be leaving it out overnight in future to ensure not too much temp fluctuation.

I have to be nicer to my yeast...

I use nothing but Vodka Star, never had a problem.
I buy them 10 at a time and store them on a shelf, no fridge.
When I mix them up I use 6kg sugar, 21lt water @ 28deg and yes you guess'd it 1 pack of Vodka Star.
Never had one that didnt start bubbling the air lock within a couple of hours.

I ferment here all the time for the brewery... given you have done everything right...and I have no reason to think otherwise...do not judge the quality of the ferment by the bubbler. More often if there is no bubbler action it is a case of their being a leak in the lid...happened to me just today there was a hairline crack in the lid which was allowing the CO2 to bypass the bubbler....Sometimes ferments take time to kick off if you do not have enough oxygen in the wash when pitching...failed ferments are thankfully rare...I hope this helps...best of luck.

Rely on your gravities!

zwagerman9 wrote:Rely on your gravities!

I always do, it keeps me stuck to the ground :laughing-rolling: :laughing-rolling:

Sorry, couldn't help myself :D

So, did this get sorted ? Was it something like an air leak ? Or was the yeast bad ?

Instead of starting another thread, I thought I would hijack this one instead....sorry.

I thought I would get back into it after finally getting back home. So early this morning I started another batch, this time trying some VodkaStar yeast and 6kg of sugar. I have had this yeast in the fridge for quite a while, its used by date is 07/2012, so I am not sure of my chances of this one taking off. Water temp was very close to 26 degrees, so that shouldn't be an issue, just the yeast is a bit old.

Can anyone advise if this is way too far over the used by, or is there a good chance it will still take off...?
If its likely its dead, am I able to add a full sachet of SS Triple Distilled yeast in to give it a kick, or should I get a small amount of some other yeast to get it going.


Regards

Its not a bottle of milk mate. :))

It should be fine. Check out the condiments in the back of your cupboard, you will be nicely surprised 8-}