Ginger beer plant trouble!?

[Beckybex]

I started a ginger beer plant on thursday last week. I've been feeding and stiring everyday but not a lot's happening. I was expecting some frothing and bubbling by now but it just looks like dirty water really!! Any thoughts? Am I expecting too much? Am worried the yeast was no good, was the dried Hovis stuff but def not out of date. Also, should it be covered, in light or dark, warm or cool. At moment uncovered on kitchen side but fairly dark position.

[ckfe]

not got a clue but making your own ginger beer sounds exciting!!.. very famous five

[Hilary B]

It should be possible to see bubbles, but only if you look REALLY hard. Should 'froth' a bit when stirred.
Needs to be warm, not fussy about light or dark.
I always kept a cover on to keep flies etc from landing/falling in (but you MUST let the bubbles out).
Ordinary dried yeast should be OK, but I'm not sure about the 'easy-blend' bread making type (might work, but never tried it)

[rana]

Dried hovis yeast is bread yeast. The strains of yeast used in beer and wine brewing are quite different. I would have thought some fermentation (bubbles) would have happened even with Hovis yeast but you may end up with ginger bread, not ginger beer.........

[Hilary B]

Dried hovis yeast is bread yeast. The strains of yeast used in beer and wine brewing are quite different. I would have thought some fermentation (bubbles) would have happened even with Hovis yeast but you may end up with ginger bread, not ginger beer.........

While modern dried yeasts are more specialised, most fresh yeast sold for bread making is a by-product of the brewing industry. Wine yeast is another matter......

[Brewer-again]

ginger beer plant

You could make a starter with sugar and yeast and warm water, then when this has started frothing add some of your GB plant to it, when that has kept going add the rest and leave somewhere warm. Carry on as usual.

Brewing yeast is a specifically refined/tailored yeast for alchohol yield, Cooking yeast will work but will not make the best brew, may leave a yeasty taste.

Or you could start again but keep it covered but not closed as it produces gas !!!

Makes a lovely summer drink, see if you can get some Grolsh style bottles to store it.