Using 6+ old lager slurry

[Murphys_Law]

I'm making a Vienna lager soon and have 2 jars of WLP838 slurry from mid-Nov. Anyone have luck using 6+ month old slurry in a lager?

I am thinking of pitching both jars for a 5.5G batch.

Thoughts?

 

[triletter]

That's getting a bit out there in age. What you might want to do is a proof starter to make sure it is viable and then pitch it.

 

[SanPancho]

Make a big big starter On stirplate. After about 8 hours turn it off. Wait 2 minutes, dead stuff drops to bottom, pour off the good yeast. Then back on stir plate. When its done, youll have much better idea how much viable yeast you have.

 

[Murphys_Law]

I decided to "punt" and am currently spinning a new starter using fresh WLP830!

 

[schematix]

Works fine but expect several days to see activity.