I brewed a stout yesterday following a recipe from BYO magazine. While I was brewing, I noticed the recipe called for 2.5 packages of 1056 liquid wyeast or 1 package in a 3 liter yeast starter. I only had 1 package of yeast. I obviously did not have the time to make a yeast starter so I just pitched the 1 package of yeast in the fermenter and hoped for the best. How will this effect my stout? Will it just take longer to ferment since I only have 1 package of yeast in it? Is it to late to buy another package and pitch it in? Or should I just not worry about it?
Thu, Nov 24, 2011 - 11:11am
#1
Yeast Pitch for Stout
I'll throw in that my number one issue with most beers that I judge in competitions suffer from an underpitched character. This is usually an estery profile that is distinct to stressed yeast.
Also, when Wyeast says that the smack pack is enough for a 5 gallon batch, that is actually on the day that it is packaged. Each day that passes reduces the viability of the yeast. Just something to think on.
My starting gravity for my stout was 1.070. I just transferred it to the secondary and it fermented down to 1.020.
Kevin Saberniak
What was the O.G. of the brew? For any high gravity beers above ~1.060 you should double or triple normal pitch rates. If you’re below the 1.060 O. G. you should end up with a fine brew!!!
Yeah. Your beer will be fine but it if you make it again and use the correct pitching rate, it will make a big difference. Wyeast has the smallest amount of yeast per packet/vial that you can get among all the yeasts commercially available. Their claim that it's enough for a 5 gallon batch should be read as, "sufficient for a 5 gallon batch" but certainly not ideal or even good.
That is the recommended pitching rate, the 2.5 packs. your beer will still start and will probably come out fine. However, you are under pitching and you may see some signs of stressed out yeast. But to be honest, I think you are okay. If you've already pitched, I wouldnt worry about it. When I first started brewing I made plenty of beers and put far less yeast than what is needed....and the majority of those beers came out fine. But for the future, check out this pitch rate calculator you will have a better final product if you pitch the correct amount of yeast.