Smack pack already smacked!

I just received my long awaited order, and to my suprise my yeast was already smacked. It was nice and cold so I thought no problem, but after a few hours the pack still isn't expanding. I called the place that shipped it and they said the shaking during shipment probably smacked it, but it is okay, even it if doesn't grow I can still use it and be fine. Never had this happen before, should I brew or wait? I was going to brew tonight...

It's not swelling at all? Are you absolutely sure that the inner pack has been activated, do a nice slow "caress" of the pack and make sure. Unless you really need to brew, I'd consider making a starter and making sure before going through the motions.

It is a little swollen, but not any more than when I got it. I checked pretty good, I don't feel anything in it. Usually it is pretty easy to find. I hate doing starters!!!!

hmmm. as difficult as they are to pop sometimes, i doubt the inner pouch of nutrients actually got popped during shipping unless it was in a box under a bunch of grains or a bottle of something. i would carefully double check again to make sure it is popped. what is the date on the yeast? if it is a couple months old, some of the weaker yeasties may have perished and it may just be taking a while for the strong ones to build back up.

I bet there is just a little CO2 build up in there and it has not been smacked with the inner pouch broken. This has happened to me when I have received them during shipping. You have to whack it pretty good to break the pouch I doubt that would happen in shipping. Im sure its fine

You don't have to smack it anyway, especially if you're pitching enough yeast and the pack is fairly new. The inner packet is just a yeast nutrient - it's not a deal breaker if you can't get it broken.

No worries.

maltMonkey said:

You don't have to smack it anyway, especially if you're pitching enough yeast and the pack is fairly new. The inner packet is just a yeast nutrient - it's not a deal breaker if you can't get it broken.

No worries.

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I was not aware of this, but right from the horses mouth on Wyeast's webstie, "Although beneficial, cultures do not need to be activated prior to inoculation."

But there's also "Activation also serves as a viability test of the culture." I would second the recommendation for the starter to double check if the yeast is good. I understand if you hate doing them but what do you hate more? Doing starters or wasting a brew day to dead yeast?

I hear ya, I am going to have to do a starter, the brew day already got pushed back because of this... darn.

If the outer package is already swollen a bit due to pressure, you may not be able to feel the inner packet. Put it in the fridge for a little while. The cold will reduce the pressure a bit and should allow you to locate the packet inside well enough to rupture it.
If it has definitely already popped, then do yourself a favor and labor through a starter just to be sure.

bull8042 said:

If the outer package is already swollen a bit due to pressure, you may not be able to feel the inner packet. Put it in the fridge for a little while. The cold will reduce the pressure a bit and should allow you to locate the packet inside well enough to rupture it.
If it has definitely already popped, then do yourself a favor and labor through a starter just to be sure.

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Oh the fridge trick didn't think of that because it was already on ice in the box. That did it, thank you very much, now I can smack it... thanks again, I learned something new again from this board!

underwaterdan said:

Oh the fridge trick didn't think of that because it was already on ice in the box. That did it, thank you very much, now I can smack it... thanks again, I learned something new again from this board!

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There you go... See! At least ONE of my posts was not useless!