Swollen Inner Packet - Wyeast

[CayugaBrewer]

I went to activate an American Ale Wyeast smack pack and found the inner packet to be swollen. I popped it without having to actually smack it, rather I squeezed. Looking back, I'm wondering if maybe the nutrients in the inner packet had gone bad? Do you think this is problem?

 

[dancness]

I don't think the nutrients go bad. Your only concern should be the declining viablity of the yeast cells over time. What was the date on the package?

If you used a fresh pack (less than a month old) you should have no problems. Did the pack swell up as it should?

 

[jaycount]

Maybe temp fluctuations had caused it to swell up?

I really doubt it's a problem. Did you make a starter? Is it taking off? Is the fermentation taking off? I bet you're ok

 

[bad67z]

I went to activate an American Ale Wyeast smack pack and found the inner packet to be swollen. I popped it without having to actually smack it, rather I squeezed. Looking back, I'm wondering if maybe the nutrients in the inner packet had gone bad? Do you think this is problem?

I believe the inner pack holds the yeast.

 

[jaycount]

http://www.wyeastlab.com/hb_productdetail.cfm?ProductID=16

Nah the inner pack holds the nutrients, all of the liquid slurry on the outside contains the yeast.

 

[CayugaBrewer]

Its a few days over 6 months old. The pack is swelling; just a little slower than normal...

Maybe I'll hold off brewin' till marrow. Thanks!

 

[jaycount]

6 months is the (suggested) shelf life on the activator packs.

Id pitch like normal, if it's swelling at all then there's still some viable yeast in there

 

[Willum]

I assume you mean 1056? If so, every pack I have ever used is swollen like this even the ones I purchase from the LHBS. I found this one day which helps explain it a bit.

NOTE: This yeast has a tendency to swell at room temperature, which means the pack you get by mail order will already be partially swollen. This makes it harder to determine if the yeast is still viable. We recommend you order American Ale 11 (see link below) instead of this yeast if you are planning on brewing without making a starter. WARRANTY CLAIMS FOR SWOLLEN YEAST WILL NOT BE HONORED FOR THIS STRAIN DUE TO THIS PROPERT

Here is the full link
http://www.williamsbrewing.com/XL-1056-AMERICAN-YEAST-P576.aspx

 

[CayugaBrewer]

Thanks for the link. The pack was swollen a bit... but it is the inner packet that was very swollen. I didn't even need to smack it, only squeeze it.

 

[IrregularPulse]

Just smell it before pitching into your wort.

 

[dancness]

I'd make a starter with it before you use it, just to be sure.

 

[CayugaBrewer]

Update - The next day the pack had swollen nicely, but I didn't have time to brew. After the weekend, I brewed an American pale ale on Tuesday, and by the next morning the airlock was going to town with non stop activity. Thanks for the advice!

 

[badhabit]

The last two packs of 1056 I have purchased have been exactly the same. I have purchased them over the course of about the past two months. Both had dates that were well within limits. They both worked fine but I do wonder what is going on....new Wyeast packaging and something else seems to have changed

 

[Waunabeer]

The last two packs of 1056 I have purchased have been exactly the same. I have purchased them over the course of about the past two months. Both had dates that were well within limits. They both worked fine but I do wonder what is going on....new Wyeast packaging and something else seems to have changed

Agreed. I used this yeast on my last batch and I smacked it quite a few times without breaking the inner sack, so I had to squeeze the crap out of it until I felt it pop. They may be using a thicker material on it to prevent premature breakage.

Either way they seem to work good still.

 

[RIT_Warrior]

I think some input from wyeast itself helps in these conversations: