Yeast shelf life

Saved some yeast in gallon jug, sitting in fridge for 2 months. Does it ever go bad?? Of course I would make a starter next time I used it. What is the longest you have stored recycled yeast??

Thanks

dukes7779 said:

Saved some yeast in gallon jug, sitting in fridge for 2 months. Does it ever go bad?? Of course I would make a starter next time I used it. What is the longest you have stored recycled yeast??

Thanks

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People have reported success after 6 months to a year.

Maybe you can decant, make a 2L starter and put it back in the same jug to give it more life.

Anyway, I made a 1.5L starter (stir plate) on Friday night with 3 month old wyeast. It fermented out by this morning. I plan to decant it and make a 1L starter for brewing tonight.

And yeah it will go bad (die out). Check the calculators.

I would do exactly as badbrew said right above. I have kept rinsed yeast in the fridge for months and just decant and 'restart'.

Good idea Badbrew, by making a starter every 4-6 months it is basically starting over the shelf life! It's not that I don't brew often, just don't always use certain yeasts.

dukes7779 said:

Good idea Badbrew, by making a starter every 4-6 months it is basically starting over the shelf life! It's not that I don't brew often, just don't always use certain yeasts.

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If that's the case, you should just make some slants.

I have some six month old yeast (Wyeast 1099 Whitbread) I recently acquired and pitched it into a 2l starter 24 hours ago. Nothing has happened except that the break settled. SG is still 1.040. Anyone think it'll still take off?

klnosaj said:

I have some six month old yeast (Wyeast 1099 Whitbread) I recently acquired and pitched it into a 2l starter 24 hours ago. Nothing has happened except that the break settled. SG is still 1.040. Anyone think it'll still take off?

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6 months should still have viable yeast, although a liter of 1.040 is probably going to be a little much for them at first.

Speaking of decanting, I don't wash my yeast or anything. I just dump it in the jug from the fermenting bucket and store then reuse. I tried to wash and decant but the slurry always mixes with the clear wort and I lose most if the yeast. Any tips/tricks??

pabloj13 said:

6 months should still have viable yeast, although a liter of 1.040 is probably going to be a little much for them at first.

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Y'know...I was worried about this. I debated with myself for a long while before pitching into 1 L and then after doing that I though it over and threw another liter on top. I should've started small, huh? Trying to hurry things almost always ends up causing more problems than it solves.

klnosaj said:

Y'know...I was worried about this. I debated with myself for a long while before pitching into 1 L and then after doing that I though it over and threw another liter on top. I should've started small, huh? Trying to hurry things almost always ends up causing more problems than it solves.

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It may just take off fine, but take a little while. I just figure at that point it can't hurt to baby them a little and get them awake.