Nottingham yeast RECALLED... what the...

What went wrong? Was this supposed to happen? Should I throw it out? What do I do now?

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Benjamin1c
Light Lager
Light Lager
Posts: 25
Joined: Mon Aug 02, 2010 11:54 pm
Location: maryland

Nottingham yeast RECALLED... what the...

Post by Benjamin1c »

okay, so I found out this little bit of information just this morning after I made an 'emergency' trip for an extra packet of yeast.

I was up late last night, on a complicated extract recipe for what surely could be a kick butt brown (might even name it that if it works out :-)

Pitched my packet of Nottingham at exactly midnight. Today at noon, I check the airlock... nothing. No scent of fermentation, no bubbling.

Okay, I thought, don't sweat it, slow starts do happen sometimes.

Well, the brewshop guy tells me nonchalantly "no more Nottingham"... it was alll sent back for recall. He didn't know why, thought maybe it was some "infection" in the shipment.

Then, I started to sweat it, a little. I bought some dry Safale 05 (for like 4 bucks!)
Benjamin1c
Light Lager
Light Lager
Posts: 25
Joined: Mon Aug 02, 2010 11:54 pm
Location: maryland

Post by Benjamin1c »

oops... posted prematurely.
Anyway, I returned home, armed with my Safale, wondering about this supposed "infection". Actually, a bit on internet research told me there was one other recall, back in '09 I think. And, from what I gathered on other brewing message boards, it is NOT supposed to be due to infection, but many others who've had slow or no starts after pitching.

Anyone know anything else at all about this? I'm guessing the yeast is mostly dead for some reason, a bad shipment. Not supposed to be anything harmful though, at least I've heard.

Oh well, I've pitched my Safale, I even hydrated it first which I don't usually do, but wanted to make sure this time. Actually, when I opened the bucket to add it, there was SOME fermentation starting, not nearly what I would expect 12+ hours after pitching. I don't think there will be a problem combining the 2 yeasts either... but I've never done it before.

In any event, I'm keeping my fingers crossed on this one. take care, and don't buy any Nottingham yeast for a while.
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