first dead yeast experience

[jake-k]

Had a vial of san Diego super yeast that I pitched in a batch of pale ale, around 1.053, 64 degrees 68 hours and nothing. Took a sample, didn't drop a point. Raised temp up to seventy for 24hrs and still nothing.
Pitched a packed safe ale 05, took nearly 18 hours and finally getting some action.

I'm super bummed because that was the first time that has happened to me, and I was looking forward to trying that yeast. Now I'm a little paranoid about it.

I have never had a yeast take longer than twelve hours to get working.

 

[LLBeanJ]

One word: starter

I love liquid yeast. It's pretty much all I ever use, but I'd never think of pitching a vial without making a starter first. You have no way of knowing viability, otherwise.