whites lab yeast past expiration

**b-boy** · 09-25-2011, 01:31 AM

I just got a liquid whites lab yeast vial from a mail order site. The use by date on the bottle is Sept 18th. Today is the 23rd. I'm not going to use it for a few days. How important is the date on the vial?

**bnmir** · 09-25-2011, 01:34 AM

When in doubt - make a starter

**Revvy** · 09-25-2011, 01:37 AM

If you make a starter, then the age of a yeast isn't really an issue. When you make a starter, and grow it, you're replicating more yeast to make up for any loss. You're making new, fresh yeast.

Bobby M did a test on year old stored yeast here; http://www.homebrewtalk.com/f13/testing-limits-yeast-viability-126707/

And my LHBS cells outdated tubes and packs of yeast dirt cheap 2-3 dollars each and I usually grab a couple tubes of belgian or other interesting yeast when I am there and shove it in my fridge. and I have never had a problem with one of those tubes.

I usually make a starter but I once pitched a year old tube of Belgian High Gravity yeast directly into a 2.5 gallon batch of a Belgian Dark Strong, and after about 4 days it took off beautifully.
The purpose of a starter is to reproduce any viable cells in a batch of yeast....that;s how we can grow a starter form the dregs in a bottle of beer incrementally...and that beer may be months old.

Even if you have a few still living cells, you can grow them....That's how we can harvest a huge starter (incrementally) from the dregs in a bottle of some commercial beers. You take those few living cells and grow them into more.

**Dilligans** · 09-25-2011, 01:37 AM

Well I have had yeast that has been expired... all you have to do is make a hell of a stARTER AND IT WILL BE GOOD..Just shake and pitch... but If it really bothers you I would try to see if you can get a new one.... Most places will send you a new one.. Unless they are not a repitipable site...

**Dilligans** · 09-25-2011, 01:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Revvy

If you make a starter, then the age of a yeast isn't really an issue. When you make a starter, and grow it, you're replicating more yeast to make up for any loss. You're making new, fresh yeast.

Bobby M did a test on year old stored yeast here; http://www.homebrewtalk.com/f13/testing-limits-yeast-viability-126707/

And my LHBS cells outdated tubes and packs of yeast dirt cheap 2-3 dollars each and I usually grab a couple tubes of belgian or other interesting yeast when I am there and shove it in my fridge. and I have never had a problem with one of those tubes.

I usually make a starter but I once pitched a year old tube of Belgian High Gravity yeast directly into a 2.5 gallon batch of a Belgian Dark Strong, and after about 4 days it took off beautifully.
The purpose of a starter is to reproduce any viable cells in a batch of yeast....that;s how we can grow a starter form the dregs in a bottle of beer incrementally...and that beer may be months old.

Even if you have a few still living cells, you can grow them....That's how we can harvest a huge starter (incrementally) from the dregs in a bottle of some commercial beers. You take those few living cells and grow them into more.

revvy I have heard about that? growing yeast from existing beers.... I was wondering Have you ever made a started from beers like dogfish head and Sierra nevada? I am wondering if this is possible.. let me know?

**Revvy** · 09-25-2011, 01:48 AM

I don't know about Dogfish Head or Sierra Nevada. I've done Hoegaarden, Maudite, Bells yeast and Pacman, Rogue's signature yeast.

There's a guy trying to compile an updated list of successfully harvested beers here..

tacticalhooligan · 09-25-2011, 02:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dilligans

revvy I have heard about that? growing yeast from existing beers.... I was wondering Have you ever made a started from beers like dogfish head and Sierra nevada? I am wondering if this is possible.. let me know?

Sierra Nevada is a pretty common harvest, as is Bell's proprietary strain and Rogue's Pacman. Don't know anything about DFH, it depends entirely on if the beer is bottle conditioned vs force carbed and filtered and if the bottle conditioning yeast is the primary strain or one that is added in and doesn't contain the desired characteristics.

**Dilligans** · 09-25-2011, 02:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Revvy

I don't know about Dogfish Head or Sierra Nevada. I've don't Hoegaarden, Maudite, Bells yeast and Pacman, Rogue's signature yeast.

There's a guy trying to compile an updated list of successfully harvested beers here..

thankyou I have learned something new... I will try that now...

**b-boy** · 09-25-2011, 03:28 PM

thanks for the info. I've started doing starters, so I will be doing a starter. I guess my biggest problem is with the homebrew site sending out old yeast. If I kept it for a month and it expired that's one thing, but if I'm paying 6 bucks for yeast I'd hope they would send me fresh stuff.

**b-boy** · 10-04-2011, 08:52 PM

As a followup I contacted Rebel Brewers about the yeast and they sent me a fresh vial. I've been really happy dealing with them so far. They have excellent customer service and the speed that they ship is incredible. I can order on a Tuesday anf get my stuff by Thursday or Friday.