Do you think this yeast is any good?

[DancingBull]

Howdy,

I recevied a watermelon ale kit from Williams brewing (I've done this one before with great results) which came with wyeast 3056 Barvian Wheat Blend dated Dec. 14, 2011. I made a yeast starter of 1/3 lb DME and 1/3 gallon of water. (I don't break the bubble in the smack pack, I just pitch the yeast into my starter, the pack wasn't swollen when it arrived, and i put it in the fridge right away)

I also made a yeast starter for a separate beer i brewed using 1056 America Ale yeast that came from Northern Brewer, 1/2 lb of DME and 1/2 gallon of water, yeast dated dated 2/20/2012.

As the starters sat side by side, the american Ale yeast showed signs of working as in the air lock bubbled, but the barvian wheat blend didn't. This is the first starter that showed 0 signs of 'activity'. A small 'head' formed on it, about 1/4 inchs thick, but that's it.

I emailed Williams to let them know and this was their reply:
It sounds like your yeast may still be fine. I would pitch this into your wort and see what happens.

Thoughts? I'd like to use this tonight since it will have been 72 hours since making the starter if you think its still viable.

Thanks!

 

[JonM]

Check the gravity of the starter beer and then you'll know for sure if it's fermenting.

 

[BradleyBrew]

I've used smack packs that are 1 year old in a starter with great results. Why do you think this yeast would be bad? If formed a krausen then its working. Second, I wouldn't use a airlock for starter. Use sanitized foil so you get proper gas exchange.

 

[DancingBull]

I've used smack packs that are 1 year old in a starter with great results. Why do you think this yeast would be bad? If formed a krausen then its working. Second, I wouldn't use a airlock for starter. Use sanitized foil so you get proper gas exchange.

Thanks for the replies. I guess the only reason i think it's bad is the airlock isn't bubbling, probably not the best indicator but this is the first starter i've done, and i've done this same beer last year, where the airlock didn't bubble, even minutely, during the starter.