Another Wyeast activator question

[nostalgia]

This has been in my fridge for a few months - the MFG date is 02SEP08. It's 1028 London Ale.

I smacked it this morning and the nutrient pack definitely broke. I've had it at 70-73F for 6 hours now and it hasn't swelled a bit. I've intermittently shaken it.

I was going to make a starter tonight to brew tomorrow, but should I bother at this point? Or can a starter magically revive a dead pack?

-Joe

 

[ajf]

I doubt it's a dead pack, but it may take a few days to wake up. I'd wait till next week, which should give the starter plenty of time to get going.

-a.

 

[nostalgia]

Yeah, I should know better. I'm making the starter now.

-Joe

 

[Chadwell]

I used a Wyeast Activator over the weekend for a Belgian Witbier and after smacking it, I placed it on a cheap medicinal heating pad (on medium heat) and it began swelling after 30 minutes and was nice and ready after 3 hours...Good way to maintain the temperature to swell properly.

 

[nostalgia]

Yeah, the two I did before swelled to the point where I was afraid they'd burst they were so rock solid.

This one did doodly squat after 8 hours at 70-73F. I made a starter and there has been no activity for...uhh (mathmathmath)...36 hours so far.

We'll see if anything happens in the next few days, otherwise I guess I'll have to buy a new pack Which sucks, because I'll have to order it online.

-Joe

 

[Chadwell]

Yeah, the two I did before swelled to the point where I was afraid they'd burst they were so rock solid.

This one did doodly squat after 8 hours at 70-73F. I made a starter and there has been no activity for...uhh (mathmathmath)...36 hours so far.

We'll see if anything happens in the next few days, otherwise I guess I'll have to buy a new pack Which sucks, because I'll have to order it online.

-Joe

Ugh, that does suck. 36 hours seems like a long time for an Activator pack. Mine was bubbling away about 12 hours in (pretty much by the time I woke up yesterday). The age of your pack doesn't seem unreasonable either...

 

[ArcaneXor]

If the yeast is old or got stressed in transport, it can take several days for the pack to swell up all the way.

 

[nostalgia]

50 hours and no activity. We'll see what tomorrow brings. I should see some sort of activity on the surface of the starter, no?

-Joe

 

[nostalgia]

We may have some activity 74 hours in. Nothing's happening on the surface, but when I swirled it this time there was a hiss of gas escaping under the tin foil. I'm hoping that means something good is going on

-Joe

 

[nostalgia]

Looks good after a week:

I pitched it into an ESB yesterday and it looks like I've got some activity already. Hooray for starters!

-Joe

 

[nostalgia]

And a few hours later the blowoff is bubbling away merrily...is anything more beautiful?

-Joe