NCBeernut

Recipes 

So I stopped by the LHBS yesterday after work to grab some stuff for this weekend. I get home and start talking to my girlfriend as I am putting stuff away. Without thinking I throw my Activator smack pack in the freezer instead of the refridgerator. It just hit me this morning when I was in the shower. I immediately took it out. I brought it with me to work. When it thaws I think I am going to go ahead and smack it and see if I get any swelling. Do you think there are still viable yeast to make a starter or should I just go ahead and take my dumb ass back to the LHBS and get another one?

chode720

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Yeast can survive freezing temperatures:

http://www.homebrewtalk.com/f13/guide-making-frozen-yeast-bank-35891/

However, without the proper techniques to freeze it, who knows if it survived or not. I would say, give it a try, make a starter and give it a couple days to see what happens. Then go to the LHBS is needed....

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rocketman768

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You probably just killed all the yeast cells by freezing since (without adding glycerine or something) ice crystals are very sharp and cause cells to rupture. Do you have a dry yeast backup?

Don' t feel too bad...I accidentally threw my wife's 4 years of allergy serum in freezer instead of refrigerator and caused $1,300 damage.

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NCBeernut

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It was Wyeast 1450 - Denny's Favorite 50. No other yeast equivilant. I really want to use this yeast for four beers in a row. What makes matters worse, my LHBS only had one on the shelf. They might have more in stock, just not put out. AHHHH.

ikelso

Recipes 

Make a starter to try and culture any of the good cells. I forget how many cells are included in a smack pack.. something like 500 million or billion. With that many floating around it's just statistics to assume that a small handful survived the deep freeze.

mysterio

Recipes 

Just smack it, if it swells theres still viable yeast, just remember to make a starter.

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Brewmasters Warehouse

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I think you should be able to make a starter without too many issues. The starter will be slow to start, but should take off after a couple of days on a stir plate. If not then head down to the LHBS and see if they have anymore. If not I have some you can order.

Ed

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