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How old is too old for yeast?


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#1 HVB

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Posted 29 May 2018 - 06:22 AM

Found some smack packs in the fridge with a 2015 date on them.  They have been cold all this time but I am guessing it is time to let them go? 



#2 Bklmt2000

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Posted 29 May 2018 - 06:27 AM

If you felt like it, you could make a small wake-up starter.  Worst-case scenario, you're out a little time and DME.

 

I'd be inclined to make a starter, especially if they're strains that aren't available any more (seasonals, discontinued, etc.).



#3 Big Nake

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Posted 29 May 2018 - 06:49 AM

Agreed... if it's just typical yeast that I could buy new, I may throw it out.  But at the very least I would take it out of the fridge and smack the pack to see what happens.  If it swells, that's one good sign.  Then I would make a small starter and the pivotal point would be when I cut open the pack... if the yeast is dark and has a funky smell, buh-bye.  But if it seems okay, then I would continue with a starter and keep taking sniffs.  This last pack of 1056 had a date of January 2018 and I just smacked it last week.  The old timeline used to be one day for every month past its manufacture date... so 4 days.  It swelled hard in about one hour which surprised the hell out of me.  I pitched directly from the pack and had good fermentation activity within a couple hours.  



#4 denny

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Posted 29 May 2018 - 09:01 AM

I've successfully revived a 3 1/2 year old smack pack.  I started with a couple cups of 1.020 wort.  After it got going in there, I stepped it up.



#5 neddles

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Posted 29 May 2018 - 07:16 PM

I'd pitch it in the garbage unless, as B2000 noted, its a strain you cannot readily replace. 



#6 HVB

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Posted 30 May 2018 - 01:42 AM

I'd pitch it in the garbage unless, as B2000 noted, its a strain you cannot readily replace.


Kind of where I am too honestly. I have some packages of bugs and Brett that will go in an experiment but I think the rest will end up in the trash. Good lesson to not over buy!

#7 Big Nake

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Posted 30 May 2018 - 06:20 AM

I think I would still try it even if it was old just to see if it was viable.  I hate making starters but it's cheap and easy and I have been surprised before... both in good ways and bad.



#8 HVB

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Posted 11 June 2018 - 05:12 AM

0 for 2 so far with this yeast.  1469 and 2124.  1469 did not swell after a week so I chucked it and the 2124 I made a 1l SnS starter and so far flat.  Oh well, lesson learned, do not overbuy!




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