I think I killed them???

[Millhaus]

I think I killed my yeast or I am just impatient. This was only my second lager.

More than two weeks ago I brewed a Marzen using Wyeast 2206 Bavarian Lager. Fermentation went great, 75% ADF in 2 weeks. I raised the temp to 58F for 2 days to perform a diacetyl rest and then I cooled down to 38F. Then I racked off the yeast cake and started to lager. I captured 2L of yeast slurry/trub to repitch later.

I brewed up 5 gallons of Helles on Sunday and I was planning on pitching the yeast in the Helles. I washed the yeast twice to remove as much beer as possible, careful with sanitation each time. I have repitched ale yeast in the past and never had a problem.

I pitched 300ml of clean slurry Sunday night around 6 and when I checked it this morning, (36 hours later) there is no signs of fermentation.

So, did cold crashin the yeast to around 40F for two days hurt it? Should I wait longer? or Should I break down and buy three packets of yeast, aerate and pitch again?

[BDawg]

It should be ok, but I'm surprised that they are this sluggish too.
Give it another day. You should see signs soon.
Unless it's in a bucket and the seal is loose, causing no airlock activity. If that's the case, they may be going already.
It would be safe to have some more yeast ready, though.

[Millhaus]

Thanks BDawg. It is in a glass carboy with a blowoff tube. I think I am going to run to the LHBS today and pick a pack just in case.

[Millhaus]

No signs as of this morning, so of to the LHBS and pick up some yeast.

[Thirsty_Monk]

No signs as of this morning, so of to the LHBS and pick up some yeast.

That is a bummer.

You have done all the things you were supposed to do.
May be next time a little starter from slurry just to make sure the yeasty boys are kicking?

[Millhaus]

Just an update....Pitched some new yeast and things seem to be okay. When I went to pitch I aerated again (pure O2 for 1 mintue) and then threw in the yeast. There were no wierd smells or scum on the wort, so I am hoping that my process was clean and nothing grew in the lag time from cooling to pitching.

[BrewBlender]

I think I'm having a similar issue, except I think I froze my slurry...it's been 18 hours and I've got 12 gallons of wort with no activity. I usually get a little or blow-off within the hour, also using pure O2.

Can I ask, how long was it before you repitched and how did everything turn out? I may be repitching after 45 hours and am nervous. Did you keep your wort at room/ferm temp in between first and second pitch?

[Millhaus]

I waited 72 hours and then repitched it took off less than 24 hours after that. I kept the wort at 50F during the entire time to make sure I did allow growth of any nastys. I think the beer would have turned out great if I would have done a diacetyl rest. I think I either did not leave the temperature up long enough or I waited too long after high krausen to raise (most likely both). The underlying beer was great, just tasted like movie popcorn when it warmed up.