Y does Wyeast put a pitch rate of under 100bl cells into 1.060 wort on the label?

[jetmac]

From the label of Activator pack> "The Activator™ package contains a minimum of 100 billion cells in a yeast slurry.. The Activator™ is designed to directly inoculate 5 gallons of standard strength ale wort (1.034-1.060 SG) with professional pitching rates."

Wouldn't under 100 billion cells into a 1.060 wort be waaaay under pitched?

And there's no way there is 100 billion cells in that pack by the time we're ready to use it.

 

[postal_penguin]

I know White Labs recommends pitching their yeast at warmer temperatures to allow the yeast to rapidly divide and make up for the low cell count.

 

[AnOldUR]

Why do you think they put things like that on the label?

Keep in mind that these suggested rates are for repitching harvested yeast, because that is what brewers are doing most of the time. When pitching a fresh, laboratory culture grown with aeration and good nutrition, a brewer can use up to a 50 percent lower pitch rate.

I'm not saying it's right or wrong, but this is how Wyeast and White Labs justifies saying that their yeast is pitchable without a starter. They contend that a fresh, well handled smack pack or vial can be twice as viable as one that has been handled in a non-lab environment.



The trouble with this logic is that although age is available, we can never guarantee how the yeast was handled prior to our using it.







You posted this question in two places, so did a cut and paste.