Yeast after "best by" date?

[Scorpion]

Bad idea?

 

[kaconga]

How far past?

 

[BradleyBrew]

expired liquid yeast = starter
dry expired yeast = starter or pitch a new pack in conjuction with old
super old yeast = yeast nutrient

 

[jdauria]

If talking liquid, also depends on whether it's White Labs or Wyeast. White Labs "best by" date is a future date, Wyeast meanwhile lists the date the yeast was packaged.

So for example, if both vials/packs listed yesterday's date. Wyeast is as fresh as you can get, but White Labs is actually already 4 months old.

 

[Handcraftedsince87]

I had a Wyeast pack of NW Ale yeast I forgot I had in my fridge that was almost a year and a half past the date on the pack. I smacked the pack and waited about 6 hours before making a starter in some of the cider I was using. A week later, and the cider I used it on seems to be doing great. Its not as far along as the dry mead yeast cider next to it but I thank thats just a difference in the type yeast. I can't notice or taste anything wrong with it from the last time I made it.

 

[TriggerFingers]

I have a bunch of older Wyeast in my fridge....make a starter.....it will be fine.....