Is WLP002 English Ale supposed to be chunky?

[kombat]

I made a yeast starter tonight for an Oatmeal Stout I'm brewing this weekend, and it uses WLP002 English Ale yeast. I took the vial out of the fridge to let it warm up while I brewed the starter, but when I went to actually shake it up and pitch it, I noticed that it was quite chunky inside the vial. It kind of looked like cottage cheese suspended in oil (but beige instead of white). I pitched it anyway, and I can see the chunks swirling around in the flask (it's on a stir plate).

Is this normal? I've never seen this before. Every other yeast I've used has been a smooth, creamy consistency. Is this symptomatic of yeast that's been overheated during shipping? Or is it normal? Am I overreacting? The "best before" date is Oct. 17, 2013.

 

[Yooper]

Yes, that strain is chunky alright! It looks like cottage cheese to me!

 

[WesleyS]

I've used it multiple times. It's always very chunky. Nothing wrong with it.

 

[BigFloyd]

WLP002 and WY1968ESB are both "cottage cheese" yeasts, especially after it's been on the stirplate 12-15 hours and it's done culturing.

It's perfectly normal.

 

[beergolf]

WLP002 and WY1968ESB are both "cottage cheese" yeasts, especially after it's been on the stirplate 12-15 hours and it's done culturing.

It's perfectly normal.

Yep.

The first I saw it I was a little shocked, but it is exactly what those yeasts do.

 

[reuliss]

That chunking tendency one of the things that makes that yeast floc out so well.

 

[2bluewagons]

Beautiful fast-fermenting cottage cheese is what that yeast is all about. It's one of my favorites.