K-97 Lag Time

[Punter]

I'm starting to stress a bit here. Brewed my first Alt, and am using
K-97 for the first time also.
I pitched a pack of k-97 on tuesday morning at 18c and on wed morning
there was no activity so pitched another packet. It's now thurs night and
there is still no activity. I have raised the temp up to 20c and swirled the fermenter.
Is there any hope for it, or should I just bite the bullet and pitch a pack of us56.
I dont have any other suitable yeast.
HELP

 

[razz]

Any visual signs in the fermenter Punter ?

 

[Punter]

none at all razz. First time using this yeast, so wasnt sure what to expect,
and now i'm getting worried.

 

[bconnery]

It is a little unusual that there is no activity. k97 can sometimes start slowly I've found in the past.

What about readings? Airlock activity is not always the best indicator of fermentation. You are best to measure your gravity along the way.

It it's going down, then your beer is fermenting.

 

[Punter]

Will take a reading when I get home tonight.
Hopefully there will be some signs of activity by then, if sg has'nt
dropped at all I will chuck in a pack of us56 and just hope
infection hasn't set in

 

[Ross]

Will take a reading when I get home tonight.
Hopefully there will be some signs of activity by then, if sg has'nt
dropped at all I will chuck in a pack of us56 and just hope
infection hasn't set in

Don't stress - if everything was sanitary the beer will be fine - avoid keep opening up a new brew; just pitch your yeast, then leave it. If you continue to keep opening it up, stirring etc, you are asking for problems.
i've had a couple of lagers take a month to kick off (serverely under pitched before going on holiday) & all was fine. If no activty after 3 days, either visual or hydro reading, I'd be looking at pitching a second packet.

Cheers ross

 

[Punter]

Thanks for the help guys,
Ross have already pitched a second pack on Wed, and still no visual
signs. I dont have a lid on my fermenter, just glad wrap with the rubber seal to hold it
in place, so havnt been opening it, I can see whats going on.
Will check sg tonight and maybe wait another day or two
and see what happens.

 

[JWB]

I have found that K97 is always very slow to start....I once took 8 days to show signs of movement and another 4 weeks to finish. The end results were outstanding so just hang in there and all will be well


Cheers

JWB

 

[razz]

Morning Punter. I recommend you make the packet yeast up as yeast cream before you pitch, I've had great success with this method using US56, but it applies to K-97 also. http://www.fermentis.com/FO/EN/pdf/SafaleK-97.pdf

 

[Punter]

Thanks for the reply guys,
I usually do rehydrate dry yeast before using, but for some
reason it didn't even occur to me to do it for this batch :blink:
I will try to be patient and let it go, fingers crossed.

 

[winkle]

K-97 should takeoff within 12 hours if re-hydrated before pitching, it'll handle quite warm temps easily, but can be pretty slow in the teens. It could be slowly grinding away without you noticing though, so keep checking the SG.

 

[Punter]

Thanks guys for giving me confidence and just
letting the wort sit and do its thing.
The Alt is now happily fermenting away with a nice thick krausen :beerbang:
Goes to show sometimes you just have to be patient.
Never had a yeast take this long to take off before, but alls good now.
Cheers :beer:

 

[Brauhaus007]

You should always rehydrate your yeast.. have just done two brews using K-97. pitched both at 23 degrees both were popping along within 5hrs. Let temp come down to 21or 20 on own then hold. If you go to low your yeast will be less efficient and possibly even stall.