The refrigerator ate my yeast.

[zweasel]

Ok, so my refrigerator did not eat my yeast. However I did miss place a tube of White labs California ale yeast in my refrigerator back in October. How long will it last and if I make a starter will it start or am I just wasting my time.

 

[Torchiest]

White Labs vials have a "best by" date on them, which is four months after they are bottled. I had a vial of trappist ale yeast that I used about one month after the best by date. I made a quart sized starter with it, and it had an awesome, powerful fermentation with a relatively short lag time. If they are properly refrigerated, they can last a good long while.

 

[seohiosipper]

I found a vial of East Coast ale in my fridge that was 4 months past its prime. Made a good starter with it and pitched it and all went just fine. Very short lag time and strong fermentation. I think they will last a few months after their best by dates as long as they are properly refridgerated, you just need to make a good starter.

 

[mysterio]

The longer you keep them, the longer the starter will take to kick into action. Apart from that, the final beer should be fine so long as it's well aerated.

 

[Torchiest]

That's a good point. My trappist starter showed almost no activity for the first two days, and had just started moving when it was time to pitch. Worked out great though.

 

[Fish]

6 years ago my wife bought me a beer kit. We moved right after that and I forgot all about brewing. Got into it last month and started playing. I thought I would get rid of the ingredients because they were 6 years old but I went ahead and smacked the yeast. A week later it was bulging at the seams. I didn't end up using it but it sure looked active.

 

[homebrewer_99]

I've used yeast SUCCESSFULLY even after it was expired 1 year.

Just make a starter about a week from (tentative) brewing date.

 

[boo boo]

I have made a sucessful starter from 2 year old WY2308 and am still using this strain (as it is frozen)