Wyeast smack pack out for 6 hours

[Hello]

I have a Wyeast smack pack sitting out for 6 hours, fully inflated in a room that is about 70F. Can I put it back into the fridge and use it again another day?


I had to end my brew day and dump my wort since it didn't get to boil all of the way. There was an issue and I couldn't avoid having to leave. It's a big bummer and I'm frustrated but I plan to re-buy and re-brew but to save on costs, if I can use the yeast it would be great.

 

[WoodlandBrew]

I have a Wyeast smack pack sitting out for 6 hours, fully inflated in a room that is about 70F. Can I put it back into the fridge and use it again another day?


I had to end my brew day and dump my wort since it didn't get to boil all of the way. There was an issue and I couldn't avoid having to leave. It's a big bummer and I'm frustrated but I plan to re-buy and re-brew but to save on costs, if I can use the yeast it would be great.

Cell counts I have done would indicate that you should have plenty of healthy cells even after several weeks in the fridge. Although the high viability is not an indication of high vitality.

The yeast cells will have depleted their glycogen reserves waking back up only to find there was no fermentable material and then gone back to a rest state unable to sufficiently rebuild their reserves.

If you make a starter with 1g of extract for every billion cells you need you should be fine. There are several chapters in my book discussing this including quite a bit of experimental data.

http://www.woodlandbrew.com/2014/03/2nd-edition.html

 

[SDJay]

I have used a yeast starter recipe that calls for adding yeast nutrients. If you use a smack pack, do you need to add extra nutrients?

 

[Hello]

Cell counts I have done would indicate that you should have plenty of healthy cells even after several weeks in the fridge. Although the high viability is not an indication of high vitality.

The yeast cells will have depleted their glycogen reserves waking back up only to find there was no fermentable material and then gone back to a rest state unable to sufficiently rebuild their reserves.

If you make a starter with 1g of extract for every billion cells you need you should be fine. There are several chapters in my book discussing this including quite a bit of experimental data.

http://www.woodlandbrew.com/2014/03/2nd-edition.html

Okay, thank you. I will take a look.