Okay... Well I have gotten around to trying liquid yeast for the first time.. I ordered a package of Wyeast 1084 Irish Ale that I am planning on using for a yeast starter.. When the package arrived by UPS.. I placed it into the fridge and several days later, I smacked the activator per the instructions on the back of the package. 3 hours later... I noticed no swelling at all... I checked again after several more hours and still nothing... I went as much as 48 hours and still.. no swelling of the pouch. The next morning I called the supplier of the yeast.. explained the situation and they agreed that something had gone wrong.. (Suspect a bad batch) so they replaced the batch free of charge... After 2 more days and while still waiting on the replacement package of yeast to arrive, the suspect package (package 1) inflated like a balloon as I suspect it was originally supposed to do. I did not know if this was a sign that the yeast inside was indeed active and alive.. healthy?? So I left it alone and sat it aside. and continued to wait for the replacement package to arrive (Packet 2). It arrived this morning and I immediately "Smack" activated the package... Well here it is 9 hours later and still no inflation at all of the yeast packet.. I am wondering if this is normal.. Or should I wait another day or so to pitch it to my yeast starter? Or.. am I possibly in receipt of a bad batch?
Some additional info on the conditions of the yeast... Both packages were shipped from Minnesota and took a week to get to California.. Each time the yeast arrived with an ice pack.. but the ice packs were no longer cold when the shipping container was opened. Package 1 was refrigerated immediately after received for about 1 week and package 2 was smacked within 10-15 minutes after arrival. My house is air conditioned and the thermostat is set to 73 degrees F. The manufacturing date on package 1 was Feb 14 and package 2 is May 14. While in transit, I am not sure if the shipping containers were exposed to high temps, Since it has been over 100 degrees plus in this area... I am worried that the yeast might have been baked while sitting in the back of a UPS truck...
Again, this is my first attempt at using liquid yeast and I do not know if what I am experiancing is normal.. Any help anybody can provide would be greatly appreciated..
Ed
Some additional info on the conditions of the yeast... Both packages were shipped from Minnesota and took a week to get to California.. Each time the yeast arrived with an ice pack.. but the ice packs were no longer cold when the shipping container was opened. Package 1 was refrigerated immediately after received for about 1 week and package 2 was smacked within 10-15 minutes after arrival. My house is air conditioned and the thermostat is set to 73 degrees F. The manufacturing date on package 1 was Feb 14 and package 2 is May 14. While in transit, I am not sure if the shipping containers were exposed to high temps, Since it has been over 100 degrees plus in this area... I am worried that the yeast might have been baked while sitting in the back of a UPS truck...
Again, this is my first attempt at using liquid yeast and I do not know if what I am experiancing is normal.. Any help anybody can provide would be greatly appreciated..
Ed