WLP830 german lager - best by 12/16

[TBaGZ]

Have a vial of WLP830 in the fridge with a best by date of 12/16/12. I have had it for a couple months, and I am thinking I won't get to making my lager for maybe another month or so. Should I make a small starter now, then wash it and store that in the fridge until I make my large starter for the batch?

 

[chuckda4th]

I would probably do a 2-stage starter now before too much dies.

Then, considering you're doing a lager, I'd do another 2 stages the days before you brew.

http://www.yeastcalc.com/

 

[TBaGZ]

That is about what I was thinking.

 

[jtejedor]

Personally I don't think you will lose that much more yeast your probably at around 10% viability anyway. I would leave it in the vial and plug the numbers into yeastcalc you will probably need a few steps to build the numbers back up to where they should be. Consider that you will need time to decant each step or at the very least the last starter so you might have to start a few weeks before your brew anyhow.

 

[progmac]

830 takes forever to get going. so don't freak

 

[TBaGZ]

Personally I don't think you will lose that much more yeast your probably at around 10% viability anyway. I would leave it in the vial and plug the numbers into yeastcalc you will probably need a few steps to build the numbers back up to where they should be. Consider that you will need time to decant each step or at the very least the last starter so you might have to start a few weeks before your brew anyhow.

You don't think I would save some time by stepping it up a bit now?