Hydrating yeast

[Naich]

I just knocked up the Brupaks Birkby kit, but having boiled the hop bag and put the hot wort back in the FV, it's at 35C and too hot to pitch the yeast. Thing is that I put the yeast in water about an hour and a half ago and it's going to be a while until I can pitch it. Is it going to harm the yeast to keep it in solution? Should I put a little bit of glucose powder in so it's got something to snack on while it waits? I'm planning on pitching it as soon as it hits 28, so that could be another couple of hours.

Bugger. I could do without the late night.

[mickhew]

Is it going to harm the yeast to keep it in solution?

I can't answer that (someone else will I'm sure) but I'd put some ice cubes into the wort, and wrap FV in wet towels, if you need to get to bed.
Also, always have a spare yeast sachet in the cupboard, for times like these!

[Naich]

Is it going to harm the yeast to keep it in solution?

I can't answer that (someone else will I'm sure) but I'd put some ice cubes into the wort, and wrap FV in wet towels, if you need to get to bed.
Also, always have a spare yeast sachet in the cupboard, for times like these!

I've put it inside an empty FV (used for bottling and water treatment), which is filled with cold water, so it's sitting in cold water now. I'll see how that brings it down. Yes, good idea about the spare yeast - it's cheap and it could save lot of hassle.

[Naich]

Thanks for the advice Chris. I should have checked the board before I chucked the yeast in from room temperature when the wort was 28C. Oh well, I'll buy some more yeast tomorrow, just in case, and see how this lot goes. I'll also give it a damn good thrashing tomorrow to get some oxygen into it. It was well churned up before I dumped the hot hopped stuff in, but I guess it would have lost some oxygen due to the higher temperature it was sat at for 2 hours. Anyway, thanks again.

[Naich]

See what happens tomorrow, although it's not good to subject it to a sudden temperature change it wont necessarily kill off all the cells. I've heard of people doing worse and getting away with it. It wont hurt to aerate it again though.

Well, by this morning there was some gentle bubbling through the airlock. I took the lid off and had a stir about an hour ago and it erupted like Mount Etna, spewing onto the carpet, so the room now smells all nice and beery (not sure the wife is as happy as me about that though ). Having mopped up and popped the lid back on it's now bubbling away quite nicely with some lovely smells coming out, so I think it's OK.

Got a spare packet of yeast now for next time I do this. Peace of mind for £1.49.