HELP!!! Yeast doesn't appear to be working

[wolfman_Jay]

Appear to be having some trouble with the fermentation on my latest brew.
Here are some details...
mini mash of
4lb. Marris Otter
1.5lb light munich
8oz Kiln Amber Biscuit
4oz Roasted Barley
.5oz Nugget hops (60 min)
.5oz Fuggles (10 min)
.5 oz Fuggles (5 min)
.5oz Nugget & Fuggles (flameout)

Boiled 1 hour and 3lb of Amber Malt extract added at end of boil. Chilled to 70º in 19 minutes. Aerated 5 minutes with aquarium pump and aeration stone.
OG 1.054
WLP005 British Ale yeast pitched directly from the vial (I usually do a starter, but didn't this time)

As of this morning, its been 60 hours and no krausen has formed and doesn't appear to be fermenting. Ive never had a brew yet take this long to begin its fermentation.
Any ideas?
If it really isn't working how can I remedy this? Can a new yeast vial just be pitched directly?
Any advice would help before I just decide to give up on it.

Jason

 

[ColoHox]

What temperature has it been at?

At a minimum, you should wait 72hrs before even slightly worrying. If no activity by then, just pitch another vial.

The only way you can be sure anything is (or is not) happening is to take a gravity reading. There is no way you should give up on this.

 

[Bernts]

Is it foam on the top of the wort?,

 

[wolfman_Jay]

Not much foam if any.

And colohox, sorry, it is running about 68º-70º according to the fermometer on the outside of the carboy. Tonight will be 72 hours. I just never ran into this long of an inactive fermenting. But pitching a new yeast is advisable after that, is what you're saying?

 

[ColoHox]

Check your gravity before doing anything. Maybe it secretly fermented one night while you were sleeping. Any reason to suspect your first pitch of yeast was bad?

Any yes, you can just pitch another vial and cross your fingers.

 

[wolfman_Jay]

checked gravity last night and it definitely is not fermenting. shook up the settled yeast a bit after that and brought up the temp with a heating blanket and this morning. Presto! This morning I have a good krausen formed and the airlock is bubbling!
Thanks guys!