Billions of lives lost

[snowman_fs]

I need some input. Drastically under pitched a German lager due to accident.

Everything was going well until I approached my fermenter at 60F with my Wyeast 2206 starter. I was giving it one last swirl before pitching and cracked it on the side of the carboy. I lost 90% of it? Who knows? I was able to pitch something but essentially an unknown and much less than planned amount.

Now what? I have left it in the kitchen overnight to stay a little warmer for a slight catch up on growth but I don't want to leave it out of my fermentation chamber too long and develop off flavours.

I could order a new smack pack but that won't make it for a couple of days. Since the starter I added was active I assume something will have happened by the time it would arrive. Can I just add new yeast then or should I just leave it up to the powers that be and see what happens. I could also "chill" it down and try and keep it all inactive while I grow another starter for a week?

Thoughts?

 

[trefilov22]

Probably no worse off adding it then, than you are right now...

 

[flars]

I think the only option you have is to pitch more yeast. You may have time to get the yeast and make a starter if you use a stir plate. If there is some fermentation activity when the new yeast arrives the wort may be safe from infection.

 

[bja]

Do you have any ale yeast you could pitch? It would be better than nothing.

 

[JimRausch]

Do you have any ale yeast you could pitch? It would be better than nothing.

Or how about dry 34/70? That's a pretty good backup lager yeast.

 

[snowman_fs]

34/70 is in my hands from the lhbs. I'll pitch it tonight.

Guess drinking Heady Topper late at night while brewing deserves some extra care...

 

[Bamsdealer]

I just underpitched a lager Wednesday. Brewed Tuesday and cleaned out the basement fridge in the process. I had quite a few growler and mason jars with yeast. Some labeled and some not. In the process I think I dumped my lager yeast instead of a high gravity Belgian. Almost decided to step up a starter from a few pilsners i had but just made a run to the homebrew shop the following evening instead.

I still underpitched but it should be fine. Ive done it i the past and had good beer.

 

[snowman_fs]

I have an update for anyone in a similar situation. I racked into a keg and was able to draw off a sample to test. Other than no carb its just fine. I would be proud to serve it to anyone. Maybe not a mind blowing malt experience but a very drinkable beer none the less.

1.056 to 1.013 thus far, going to continue lager for another couple weeks.

 

[Bamsdealer]

Good to hear. Mine's been lagering on the gas for probably a month now. I'll be a while till it gets tapped as my pilsner is still 90% full.

My goal is to have one lagered beer on tap at all times while the next cold conditions.