'Unsmacked' Smack pack swollen

[grrickar]

Say that three times fast: 'Unsmacked' Smack pack swollen

Bought some yeast a couple months ago, date look fine on package and it has been in my mini fridge. Issue is that in the last few weeks the pack looks swollen, like it was already 'smacked'. It isn't old, and it didn't immediately swell like it was ruptured in transit.

 

[k1ngl1ves]

Should be fine. No biggie.

 

[foodplusbeer]

Happens to me all the time. I wouldn't worry about it. If you are, just make a starter

 

[beergolf]

No problem at all.

From the Wyeast website.

1. The Wyeast package at my LHBS is slightly swollen. Is it still OK to use?

Yes. Trace levels of fermentable carbohydrates or CO2 in yeast slurries at the time of packaging may cause a slight expansion in packages. “Off gassing” is a result of a small amount of metabolism or simply CO2 being released from the media and can occur with proper storage. This does not indicate the mishandling of the product or a decline in the health or purity of the culture. Some strains, including 1056 and 1388, are more prone to “off gassing” than others.
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[zacster]

The biggest problem is that you won't be able to smack the pack. The yeast is fine.

I wouldn't buy yeast to store though, buy it as fresh as possible. My last purchase had a date of 7/20/2015 on it, and I used it on 8/2. That is what you want. Viability goes down over time, so that package that says 100 billion cells may only have 75 billion. Still plenty for a starter, but not quite enough for a 5 gallon batch of lighter beer, and certainly not enough for that 1.090 OG triple IPA you're planning.