Yeast warmed then chilled then warmed before use

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Torchiest

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Halloween night I got out a couple vials of yeast to warm up while I was out, with the foolish plan of making starters after I got home from a party. Not surprisingly, I was in no mood for that when I got home, and decided to put them back in the fridge over night. They are WLP013 English Ale and WLP400 Belgian Wit.

I made starters Saturday afternoon, and Sunday brewed. The 013 had some activity, but the 400 was totally flat. Pitched them both that evening. Yesterday morning, the 013 was cruising along nicely, but the 400 was still zero activity. Same thing this morning.

Now, I've used WLP400 Belgian Wit quite a few times, and I know it's a slow starter, but I'm a tad concerned. It has now been almost three full days with absolutely no activity at all. I suppose I can wait another day or so, but I don't want to leave that carboy full of delicious sugar water unprotected for too long. I was afraid the temp changes hurt the yeast, but I figured they just went dormant again before being pitched in the starters. Still, the contrast between a good fermentation and nothing is always upsetting.
 
If your wort for a starter is just DME I would use a yeast nutrient such as Saccharomyces because you need some other nutrients to give the yeast what they need to propagate. Oxygen is good too. Shaking often or stirring constantly helps too. If you do not have Saccharomyces then some wort from grain is better than DME as it has a lot of the nutrients that whole malted grain provides.

Ref: http://www.maltosefalcons.com/tech/MB_Raines_Guide_to_Yeast_Culturing.php
 
Well, here I am at about T+46hrs, and nothing still. I'm going to let it go overnight, and if it's still lifeless in the morning, I'm going to go pick up another vial of yeast.
 
Get some yeast nutrient (vitamin type) or Saccharomyces too. This gives you the best results when making starters.
 
Classic. The thing was going like gangbusters by this afternoon. They should rename WLP400 The Creeper.
 
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