Liquid Yeast Mishap and Followup Question

[zentr]

Hey all! First post. : )

Recently I ordered two extract kits with Wyeast liquid yeast. As soon as they reached my house the yeast was put in the refrigerator. Yesterday, I texted my fiance to smack the Weihenstephan Wheat yeast for a hefeweizen (batch #2) I wanted to start brewing when I got home. Unfortunately, when I got home I found out that she smacked BOTH packs of yeast. Ouch. The other yeast is Wyeast's American Ale for an IPA (batch #3). The bag was plump.

Now, I only have one fermenter so I can't start brewing the IPA for another two weeks. My question is, do I just throw the yeast out and order more OR is there a way to preserve the yeast for a couple weeks, either in warm or cold conditions?

Thanks!

(Also, as an aside, I've been posting my homebrew journal online if anyone is interested. I figure it is a good way to track the process/experience for my own needs, but may also be interesting or helpful for others.)

 

[Kaz]

Put the unused pack back in the fridge and the night before you want to make you IPA, make a 500mL yeast starter and then pitch it. Search 'yeast starter' if you've never made one before. It only requires a sanitized/sterile jar/bottle/vessel and about 50g of DME. Boil the DME in about 600-700ml of water for 15 minutes, cool it in your vessel to about 70F and pitch in your yeast. In about 12-16 hours, you should have a nice frothy jar full of healthy active yeast to toss in your beer.

 

[frazier]

+1 for sticking it in the fridge, and don't worry about it (although I would make a larger starter, but don't worry about that either).

Incidents like this caused me to relieve SWMBO of her brew-assistant position. Hope you have better luck with that.

 

[zentr]

Thanks!

This will be a learning experience then. I'll get a chance to make a yeast starter.

 

[ajf]

+1 to Kaz.
If you have a fiance that can successfully smack a smack pack at the first attempt, she sounds like a keeper.

-a.