Wyeast 3787 Trappist Lag Time

[JayDee]

Ahoy BN Army,

I brewed my first Tripel last weekend and pitched one pack of Wyeast 3787. It's been sitting around 69-70 F for 5 days with no sign of fermentation. This is my first brew done with a smack pack so of course I had difficulty determining if the nutrient pouch had broken. After 3-4 hrs the pack had not inflated so I decided to pitch anyway rather than get frustrated and risk rupturing the pack attempting to break the nutrient pouch.

After pitching I retrieved the nutrient pouch, sanitized it and then added the solution to the carboy.

Notes:

Smack pack was ordered to the west coast from northern brewer. It was cool when I received it and it went right into the fridge. Has anyone had bad luck ordering liquid yeast that has to travel such a distance? (MN to WA)

I haven't added my candy sugar yet so as not to overwhelm the yeast with too much simple sugar. (Hat tip to the Jamil Show)

So my question is am I impatient or is it safe to assume the pitch has failed and its time to swing by the local homebrew shop for more yeasties

Thanks Guys

[Sent From My iPhone]

You probably should have made a starter for a big beer like a Triple, or at least pitched 2-3 yeast packs. Did you oxygenate? With just one un-proofed yeast pack that beer is going to need a lot of oxygen.

Regardless, I would get more yeast.

[TapItGood]

+1 what Sheen said! 5 days is a bit long for no fermentation. What type of fermenter are you using? It might be fermenting but you have a slight leak in your lid so you don't see any action. Can you smell anything. Sometines you can smell it fermenting. If you're sure it's not fermenting shake the fermenter real good so that it infuses some oxygen into the wort and check in a day. If still not fermenting repitch a healthy starter of yeast. Hope that helps.

[siwelwerd]

This is my first brew done with a smack pack so of course I had difficulty determining if the nutrient pouch had broken. After 3-4 hrs the pack had not inflated

That's usually your best indicator that the pouch hadn't broken. At this stage your best bet is as stated above, repitch more yeast.