Mail-order Yeast

Hi all,

Long time lurker first time poster. Been a homebrewer for about 11 years; brewing all-grain 10 gallon batches.

I have a question regarding ordering yeast over the Internet. Being a huge fan of Rogue beers, I want to get my hands on the Wyeast/Rogue Pacman strain before it's gone, but I'm not sure if I can get it locally (haven't looked yet).

How successful have other members in this forum been with mail-order yeast? Any recommended online homebrew shops that do a good job shipping yeast?
What delivery method was used?

I'm not anticipating too many issues; ordering it with an ice pack and shipping in the cool months will help - I just don't trust shipping companies too well. Last thing I need is to be out $20.

TIA

I've never had a problem, but I've also never ordered liquid yeast in the summer. Seems just about every web company uses UPS.

Heck yeah, i ordered some yeast just last week with an icepak from Austin Homebrew Supply and when i got it 2 days after it shipped, the pack was still cold and so was the yeast.

I've never had a problem, and as long as you take precautions (such as the ice pack) the vendor will often replace non-viable yeast at their expense.

I've had pretty good luck with it, I've always gotten the ice pack from AHS and it is usually totally water by the time I get the package seeing as how I'm in the Northeast (also, it sometimes takes me a day to pick up the package meaning another 24 hours out of the fridge). I've just done my third brew using mail order yeast and after making a starter have had less than 24 hours lag time all 3 times.

JadedDog: I see you're planning a Fuller's ESB clone next. Have you formulated a recipe yet?

yeast is tough, you'll be fine. My wife ordered me a kit last summer, no ice pack for the liquid yeast, and left it in her car for 2 weeks in august. Beer turned out fine, although it took 6 days for the smack pack to swell...