Advise for a Friend

Ingredients
1

I stopped by my friends place yesterday and she was just finishing up a NB Oktoberfest kit (OG 1.058) and pitching a single smack pack of yeast (WYEAST 2633).  I told her that she was underpitching by quite a bit and she asked me for advice, I said I’d think it over and get back to her.  The options I think are:

-Let it ride, should still make good beer-may have some attenuation issues

-Go to the brew shop today and pick up another pack (or more like 3 more packs)

-Or I could give her some harvested Bavarian Lager yeast I have handy, I’m thinking a few days with the current yeast would result in the proper yeast flavor contribution and then adding the additional yeast would assist in completing the fermentation, the Bavarian Lager yeast should be fine for the style

I’m leaning towards giving her some of the Bavarian lager yeast and having her pitch it right away.  Anybody have an opinion on this?

She has a space where she can maintain 50-55F pretty consistently.

2

I’d ask her where it’s at right now. If she has an established fermentation then I’d just let it ride.

3

Also, how many gallons is she brewing?  If it’s only 5, I wouldn’t worry.

4

She just pitched yesterday evening so I doubt there is too much activity yet and yes 5 gallons.

5

More yeast ASAP

6

I’d offer the yeast you have (like Denny said ASAP).

7

More yeast is the best alternative, but increasing the wort to a warmer temperature (say 65F) temporarily will help.  This will come at the expense of a little more ester formation.  Once activity is apparent, move back to the normal lager temp.

8

and/or get another pack of yeast today and do a 2L starter tonight and add it tomorrow at high kraeusen.

and introduce her to Jamil’s webiste www.mrmalty.com that has a lot of info on yeast starters

9

http://www.mrmalty.com/calc/calc.html

10

She’s on her way over to pick up more yeast.

Sometimes I wish the yeast manufacturers would put a chart of # vials/packages per Volume @ OG on the packages of yeast.  I feel like most of my friends that have gotten into homebrewing underpitch because they aren’t aware of the importance of proper pitching rate.  At minimum the cost would probably encourage beginning brewers to sticking with easier kits which I think would be better.

Or if one of them would produce a more practically pitchable sized offering.

11

Homebrewers are notoriously “frugal”.  Most wouldn’t pay the price a realistically sized pack of yeast would cost.  IMO, if you’re not into making starters, stick with dry yeast.  Even US-05 can make some decent pseudo lagers.

12

+1  I brewed an O’Fest with this last year.  This strain is a sluggish SOB even when pitched properly.  I was really not a fan of it.  Next O’Fest is going to be with the Ayinger strain.