white labs yeast looking nasty in vial...kaput?

[CaliBrewin]

So my father was at the homebrew shop a month ago and asked me if i needed anything. i let him know that i need some eng ale yeast for a brew i had planned. he got me a vial of wlp002 as i requested, but i found out two days later that he had left it in his bag on the floor in the dining room. as soon as i found out i threw it in the fridge.

so basically, i have a vial of wlp002 that was left out for two days in 70F atmosphere before being placed back in a fridge. my concern is that its very CHUNKY. every vial ive had previously the yeast has been nice and viscousy at the bottom, and when i shake them theyre a nice smoothly blended tube of yeasty goodness. but this vial is just constantly chunky.

so my question to you guys is, should i:

1) make a starter with it anyway and see what happens

OR

2) dont risk it, toss it, get a new vial and eat the cost

any thoughts? cant bring myself to do anything without input from others..

 

[Schnitzengiggle]

Make a starter with it, it will probably be fine.

English yeast strains particularly WLP002 has a real high flocculation rate, and can clump together.

More than likely it is fine.

 

[Revvy]

Yeast is ugly...that shouldn't be a worry.

You should ALWAYS make a starter, even before you ask us what to do. That way you will answer your OWN question.

 

[weirdboy]

70F is that yeast's natural environment...

 

[CaliBrewin]

i just read this on a search:

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f12/wlp002-yeast-8166/

it seems that others expressed concern for clumpyness in their vials of wlp002.

i suppose this might be normal than..

 

[stevo155]

Had the same issue a couple weeks ago...very chunky. Made a mild with it, not starter, and it came out find. This yeast is flocs like crazy.

 

[rockfish42]

Very very clumpy due to it's high flocc characteristic, shake the heck out of it and make a starter.