Rehydrating for the first time

[barry44]

Hi guys,

ive got quite a big brew planned for tomorrow, 1.067, and am planning to use US-05 as normal.

Now given the proposed OG, i can either pitch 2 packets directly into the wort or rehydrate 1no packet to get the required amount of cells.

I have a pyrex measuring jug that is used as a general jug in the kitchen that i will spray down with starsan prior to use and let drain out.

The sterile water i use will be boiled water, at a rate of 10ml/mg, that i will allow to cool to the correct temperature, 24-30 according to fermentis. I assume that cooled boiled water is suitable for this? It is soft scottish water that i have.

I then leave this for 15 minutes, stir to form a cream, leave for 5 minutes, stir again and then adjust temperature to suit the wort with cold water and then pitch.

Im going to use a starsanned stainless soup spoon to stir, i assume that will be ok?

Does this sound alright?

[Jocky]

Yes, that all sounds exactly like what I have done.

Don't get too anal about the timings though they really don't matter - I would sprinkle the yeast onto the cooled boiled water, leave for 10 mins, then stir it in well and leave for 15-30mins depending upon what I was doing.

After a few minutes you should see some life in the yeast - a bit of foam should form on the top of the cream.
If it doesn't, and/or your yeast clumps on the bottom then this is a strong indicator your yeast is rather dead.

[6470zzy]

Does this sound alright?

Sounds perfect, let us know how long it takes your yeast to get rolling once you have pitched them into your FV. I find that rehydrating generally helps for a more active ferment.

Cheers

[barry44]

Thanks guys. I'm waiting for the water to cool just now.

10 minutes of the boil to go then cooling.

Should be perfect timing

[rpt]

The sterile water i use will be boiled water, at a rate of 10ml/mg,

I think you mean 10ml/g.

After you have sprinkled onto the water you can actually stir very gently. The instructions say not to stir but very gentle stirring to get all the yeast granules wet rehydrates the yeast better. It doesn't matter if you don't get any foam when you rehydrate - this is not an indicator of yeast health.

[barry44]

It appears to all be well.

[barry44]

Does this sound alright?

Sounds perfect, let us know how long it takes your yeast to get rolling once you have pitched them into your FV. I find that rehydrating generally helps for a more active ferment.

Cheers

It was away this morning with a pretty thin krausen.

About 18 hours in.

[barry44]

Hi guys,

Ive taken measurements over the last couple of nights and it appears to have gotten down to the estimated final gravity as of last night, which would mean that it has taken 8 days or so to ferment from 1.067 to 1.012.

Last night would have been my usual time to transfer to secondary and dry hop but i am concerned that i still have a massive krausen on the brew.

If i check tonight and the gravity is the same but the krausen is there will i be ok to transfer it to dry hop it?

Alternatively, i could dry hop in my primary but i am looking to heave in 150g of simcoe leaf and was hoping that the stirring effects of the syphon would help the hops get wet.

I was considering rinsing my yeast after transferring but this is not a necessity as it is US-05 ive used and not a liquid strain.

What's your thoughts?

[Kev888]

The higher gravity brews can take longer to finish and the tail-off can be more gradual in my experience, so whilst its almost done it may be worth being doubly sure. Its a good idea to be finished before dry hopping because CO2 being given off can carry away hop aroma. I also like to leave the brew on the yeast for a little while afterwards even when not dry hopping, as they're probably still working away clearing up by-products and less easy sugars.

I don't happen to use a secondary FV any more, so I always dry hop through the krausen and stir in (with a well sanitised spoon) to make sure the hops get soaked and submerged - otherwise they can stay dry and floating even without much in the way of foam. But I can see the benefits of racking first if you want to get at and preserve clean yeast slurry, and I also like to stir my dry hops daily which would kick up more sediment if still on the slurry.

I find top-cropping can be useful for harvesting yeast if I'm later going to be dry hopping, but not all varieties are good for it even amongst top-fermenting/ale yeast. I've heard differing opinions on US-05, though I seem to think I've top-cropped it in the past - its too late for your current brew in any case. So where its not feasible then racking would be an option, though I'd personally use a well sanitised/boiled hop bag (or the conical FV which isn't an option here).

Cheers
kev

[barry44]

I've blitzed the hops and fired them into primary. The krausen wasn't as bad as I thought, it looked deeper at the edges of the fermenter but it was only residue.

[Jocky]

FYI I have found that blitzing with some cooled, boiled water also works well. Stops them stealing all your beer too as they're already reasonably well soaked.

[barry44]

I rehydrated again for my latest brew and does go off a lot quicker