pitching 2 packets of yeast.....

[neilos]

I've had a few kits stick over the last couple of months (all Muntons) I've made sure everything I do is spot on but I was wondering if pitching 2 packs of yeast would be any advantage? The reason for this is that I'm normally able to get my brew down from its sticking point of 1020 down to 1014-16 by rousing the yeast daily. What are the effects of pitching too much yeast?

[dedken]

If you pitch too much yeast.... your brew may take longer to clear. Other than that I can't think of anything. From what I've read on this website lots of people pitch more than one packet of yeast - I did it myself on my last brew and it doesn't seem to have had a detrimental effect. But instead of pitching two packets you could get a small tub of yeast vit/nutrient and put in half a teaspoon when you pitch - it simply helps balance out nutrients for the yeast. I've used it to good effect in stuck fermentations.

[potatoes]

I've had a few kits stick over the last couple of months (all Muntons) I've made sure everything I do is spot on but I was wondering if pitching 2 packs of yeast would be any advantage? The reason for this is that I'm normally able to get my brew down from its sticking point of 1020 down to 1014-16 by rousing the yeast daily. What are the effects of pitching too much yeast?

You may have done this already, but did you try making a 1 litre starter to pitch the yeast? Or hydrating the yeast before pitching it first?

[EoinMag]

Overpitching can lead to a thin tasting beer.

Very good thread that covers pitching rates on Homebrewtalk.

Use the Mr Malty calculator to check optimal pitching rates.

I pitched 3 packs (33g) of Nottingham on a 60l beer this weekend, the calculator said 29g with new yeast, so I reckoned that 33 wasn't overpitching by much, should have been about right.