how long will washed yeast last?

**JLem** · 05-03-2009, 01:36 AM

I've got three jars of washed yeast from an ESB I brewed (I had four, but used one in my chocolate honey porter) The yeast is White Lab's Burton Ale. How long can I expect it to last?

Evan! · 05-03-2009, 01:46 AM

Keep it in the fridge. As long as your sanitation practices are up to snuff, it should last for a year or more.

chefmike · 05-03-2009, 01:48 AM

+1 I am currently brewing with notty that I harvested last January. Built a starter and off she went.

**cuinrearview** · 05-03-2009, 03:17 AM

I washed a batch of WLP300 last May and used the last jar (of four) of it in January. The beer was great (had one of the last bottles tonight) and I washed that batch for the coming summer. I figure five genrations or once it stops looking the same in my starters will trigger a purchase of a fresh vial. YMMV

chefmike · 05-03-2009, 03:41 AM

I had one bottle in the fridge that smelled different when I inspected it... just sour or off. It was promptly discarded. It was obviously different, which I use the duck rule: if it looks like yeast and smells like yeast, it will likely ACT like yeast.

wedge421 · 05-03-2009, 05:10 AM

I just used 2 vials of Pacman I harvested over a year ago. Added them to a starter and off they went. They were mixed with glycerin and frozen though but still a year in the fridge is no issue.