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HELP - Yeast "Slap" Pack Question
I just made my second brew, and this recipe came with a snap pack. I followed the instructions, popped the inner packet, and when I pitched it, made sure the packet had popped as it poured in.
My question is, and the instructions don't mention anything about it...should that small packet that dumped into the fermenter with the yeast, be LEFT IN the fermenter?
I'm assuming that it should since the instructions didn't say to remove it...I just don't know for sure.
Can anyone help? Should I remove that small plastic bag packet that was in there?
Well...shows how much I know...IDIOT!!!
I was convinced that the small pack shouldn't be in there, so I went back to my fermenter to pull it out....and there it is...the son of a b!tch didn't break when I thought it had. So...here's what I did...please let me know if I've just screwed up my whole batch.
I pulled the pack out, cut it open with sterilized scissors, and poured the liquid in. It was a WYEAST ACTIVATOR pack.
So..having poured in the "outer" pack first...and then about an hour later pouring in contents of the inner packet, have I completely screwed up the batch? It's the first time I used a smack pack, and really couldn't tell if it had popped or not when I smacked it. So I basically poured in an "unactived" pack, and then cut it and poured the rest in.
Please let me know if I've screwed this whole batch up.
Thanks.
No experience personally, but I would think it should be removed. I wouldn't want plastic floating in my brew as it was fermenting. Again, no experience with this and I could be completely wrong.
That's what I figured McBrewer...but I think I may have a bigger issue now. That "nutrient" pack never popped, so what I poured in was liquid yeast that hadn't "activated" properly with the nutrient pack that was inside. I'm guessing the yeast alone was ok, I'm just wondering if I completely screwed the batch by cutting it open and pouring it back in.
Eh. Relax, have a home brew! 
From what experience I have, the brew at this stage is pretty forgiving. If you sanitized the scissors, which it sounds like you did, I'm guessing that it will be fine. All you poured back in was more food for the yeast, so it shouldn't be an issue. If you don't see any activity in four or five days, then I would pitch another packet of yeast, but I think you should be fine. One of the more experienced brewers may have better advice, but I still stick by Charlie's. Relax, have a home brew! I'm having one right now! 
McBrewer wrote:
Eh. Relax, have a home brew!
From what experience I have, the brew at this stage is pretty forgiving. If you sanitized the scissors, which it sounds like you did, I'm guessing that it will be fine. All you poured back in was more food for the yeast, so it shouldn't be an issue. If you don't see any activity in four or five days, then I would pitch another packet of yeast, but I think you should be fine. One of the more experienced brewers may have better advice, but I still stick by Charlie's. Relax, have a home brew! I'm having one right now!
Thanks...I'm trying not to sweat it too much. I'm moving my first batch into secondary tomorrow, so atleast that will keep me happy. Just pissed that I could tell if the pouch popped or not. As for the scissors...not a full sanitation, but I did wipe them with rubbing alcohol before I cut the initial pack, and so used them again when I cut the inner pouch open and poured in the nutrient. I'll call the place I ordered the recipe from tomorrow and ask them. I guess worst case is I dump the batch and start a new one...chalk it up to a learning experience.
I guess worst case is I dump the batch and start a new one...chalk it up to a learning experience.
Hopefully it won't come to that. If it does, let us know so that we can drink in a moment of silence for a fallen brew. I really doubt that anything bad happened, and I'm sure it will be fine. How bad can it be? Its homebrew! 
McBrewer wrote:
I guess worst case is I dump the batch and start a new one...chalk it up to a learning experience.
Hopefully it won't come to that. If it does, let us know so that we can drink in a moment of silence for a fallen brew. I really doubt that anything bad happened, and I'm sure it will be fine. How bad can it be? Its homebrew!
Good point...thanks for the encouraging words!
nuno - the inner packet holds the wort. the outer liquid is your yeast slurry.
breaking the inner packet releases the wort into the yeast, giving them something to eat, in essence a mni starter culture. the packets say to wait 3 hours or so at room temperature and then pitch. you should see the packet swell as the yeast ferment the sugars in the wort solution.
in the future, not breaking the inner packet is no big deal. you will just experience a longer lag time between pitch and fermentation. but you don't put the plastic inner packet in your beer primary. just pour out the yeast and throw the packaging away. you shoudl nto have any ill effects, the inner package is sanized before WYeast puts it in the smack pack, but still, no need for plastic in your beer.
Thanks krausenator.
I just called the folks I bought the recipe from, and they told me the same thing. Guess I got lucky with the lag time too...it's now 12 hours later, and the airlock is already bubbling pretty well. I just put it in my temp controlled freezer at 64 degrees. Hopefully I didn't contaminate the brew with the scissors I cut the packet with, but hey...it's only my second batch right? Better to learn now. In a few weeks I'll know how it comes out.
This brew is a Porter...Yuengling Style Porter (got it from annapolis brew supply). Gotta say, they've been really helpful, and their packaging is first class. They even packed the yeast with an ice pack for transportation. Took 1 business day to get here...ordered Wed afternoon..it was here Friday afternoon...brewed it last night.
Going to move my first batch to secondary today...no airlock activity in 2 days. Going to just check the gravity on it to make sure, but I'm pretty confident this one is ready for secondary.
Guys, seriously, THANKS for all the help. Couldn't have found a better site with better people to learn about brewing and share my rookie mistakes with...lol
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