2.5 month old saved yeast - any good?

ian · May 30, 2006

So, I've got this saved 3rd generation White Labs California Ale Yeast in my fridge. This is just saved trub that I put into sterilized mason jars. I was planning on using it this weekend. I'm worried that its been in there too long, I guess the only way to find out is to make a starter and check it out.

Anybody have any insight?

Kaiser · May 30, 2006

You should be fine and have enough time to get new yeast in case it is dead. Make a starter and pitch it with a little of the saved yeasy to grow lots of new yeast from it. If it smells foul or doesn't get starterd, throw it out and get a fresh yeast culture

Kai

user 574 · May 30, 2006

Like Kaiser said. I've used saved slurry older than 2.5 months; or at least around the same age...

ian · May 30, 2006

Thanks guys, that's what I was thinking. Only one way to find out.

Brewiz · May 30, 2006

I just did the same thing but didn't make a starter, thought I had screwed up when it didn't start fermenting the first few hours. The next day it was going strong.

homebrewer_99 · May 30, 2006

Smell and taste it. If it tastes OK then it probably is.

I recommend washing your yeast instead of storing it in trub.

cowain · Jun 2, 2006

I just used some stored yeast (washed) that had been in the fridge for about 3 months. Starter started just fine, so I'd say it's likely that yours is fine, too.

ian · Jun 20, 2006

just thought I'd update on this. It worked just fine, although the starter took a while to get going. I actually made a really big starter (1/2 gallon) and used it on two batches. So that one vial of white labs yeast made five 5 gallon batches. Not too shabby if you ask me!

clayof2day · Jun 20, 2006

I just used some yeast I had stored that was about 6 months old and it was OK. Like everyone said, just make a starter, if it goes and smells and tastes good, its good! I used it for an irish red and then pitched a barleywine on that yeast cake.

2.5 month old saved yeast - any good?

Help Support Homebrew Talk - Beer, Wine, Mead, & Cider Brewing Discussion Forum:

ian

Well-Known Member

Kaiser

Well-Known Member

user 574

Dirty blonde

ian

Well-Known Member

Brewiz

Well-Known Member

homebrewer_99

Well-Known Member

cowain

Well-Known Member

ian

Well-Known Member

clayof2day

Well-Known Member

Similar threads

Latest posts

2.5 month old saved yeast - any good?

Help Support Homebrew Talk - Beer, Wine, Mead, & Cider Brewing Discussion Forum:

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Dirty blonde

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Well-Known Member

Similar threads

Join the conversation!

Join today and get all the highlights of this community direct to your inbox. It's FREE!