Yeast shipping HOT

[therackman]

I put in a recent order with one of the big online homebrew shops. My order left the shop 7/30 and arrived 8/5. It's been in the 90s where I live and likely across much of the area the order was shipped through. Needless to say the ice pack it shipped with was melted and the yeast was warm when it arrived.

I am concerned about the health of the yeast.

I went to make a starter for the black IPA I plan to make tomorrow and smacked the Wyeast 1272 American ale II pack. After letting it sit out 3+ hrs there was a little swelling of the pack. When i opened the pack to add to the starter wort it smelled very sour.

Should I be concerned for the health of the yeast and get a new pack from the LHBS before making my black IPA tomorrow or should I give it a shot and see how fermentation goes? I've only brewed with this yeast one other time and don't know if that sour smell is a normal characteristic or not?

TIA for any advice.

 

[flars]

I'm not sure what the yeast would smell like. I usually only get the aroma as the starter is working. Get your starter going. In the morning turn the stir plate off and let the wort sit for an hour. After an hour give it a couple of good shakes. If you get an instant krausen your yeast is healthy and the starter is going fine.

 

[therackman]

Thx. Think it's fine today.