Hi guys,
I've recently decided to make a foray back into brewing with a good deal more background reading this time, and after having read the John Palmer How To Brew book cover to cover as well as other sources on the internet, decided to go ahead and make the pale ale recipe detailed in there. However, my yeast seems to be doing something odd - I used Safale S-04 as the yeast, and when it was put in warm water to rehydrate, it foamed. However, when I proofed it with a teaspoon of malt extract (which apparently is not necessary, I read afterwards ) it seemed to die down. I thought I would chance it, and pitched the yeast into the wort - but after about a day of ridiculously frantic fermentation, it's now slowed to basically nothing.
Anyone got any thoughts on what's up? Should I pitch another packet into the fermenter?
The other thing was, despite boiling the wort for a good 20-30 mins, I saw no hot break - no particles of coagulated garbage floating around, just a bit less foam on the surface. I assumed it was fine, threw in the bittering hops (12 AAU cascade) and started the timer. Is this to be expected or have I, err... ballsed it up?
Any help would be much appreciated, thanks guys!!
EDIT: I've checked, it is going, but very slowly...
I've recently decided to make a foray back into brewing with a good deal more background reading this time, and after having read the John Palmer How To Brew book cover to cover as well as other sources on the internet, decided to go ahead and make the pale ale recipe detailed in there. However, my yeast seems to be doing something odd - I used Safale S-04 as the yeast, and when it was put in warm water to rehydrate, it foamed. However, when I proofed it with a teaspoon of malt extract (which apparently is not necessary, I read afterwards ) it seemed to die down. I thought I would chance it, and pitched the yeast into the wort - but after about a day of ridiculously frantic fermentation, it's now slowed to basically nothing.
Anyone got any thoughts on what's up? Should I pitch another packet into the fermenter?
The other thing was, despite boiling the wort for a good 20-30 mins, I saw no hot break - no particles of coagulated garbage floating around, just a bit less foam on the surface. I assumed it was fine, threw in the bittering hops (12 AAU cascade) and started the timer. Is this to be expected or have I, err... ballsed it up?
Any help would be much appreciated, thanks guys!!
EDIT: I've checked, it is going, but very slowly...