Was smacking a Wyeast pack of California Lager yeast a couple hours prior to making my starter and the top seam of the pack burst open! Only opened about 1/2 inch or so and only a few drops of yeast came out. Starter wort was not ready yet, so after spraying the pack down with star san, I folded it over gently and held it shut while sanitizing a small mason jar and scissors. Carefully cut open the pack and poured the yeast into the jar.
Then quickly made my starter and pitched the yeast from the mason jar. Hoping everything is copasetic. I guess time will tell when I smell/taste the starter wort prior to pitching. What a PITA!
I did the same thing one time. Smacked the pack and sent some 1056 across the kitchen. I was a little POd–I was going through an anti-Wyeast thing at the time, but it all worked out. Pitched what was left, and the brew fermented fine. Wyeast and I have made up since.
How hard are you guys smacking the pack? I’ve used hundreds of packs of it and never had that happen.
Was the pack already partly swelled? Because that’s the only way I can envision this happening. The trick is to slide the inner pouch down to the bottom corner, then press straight down with the heel of the palm. It’s just like performing chest compressions for CPR.
I’ve learned not to smack. I find the nutrients pouch and push till it pops
I get the nutrient pouch in a a corner and push, too. It’s a lot more effective just smacking the thing anyway.
Exactly!
I’ve always kind of enjoyed giving it a good smack.
Every so often I get one that just won’t pop without a solid hit. I find the pouch, move it to the corner, push down with the heal of my palm and the pack just slips away.
I have a word of advice, and, that is, use alcohol, not StarSan to sanitize anything at this level. StarSan is a not a full spectrum sanitizer, and you want to use an indiscriminate microbe killer at this level. Most beer infections can can be traced back the to culture because that is when an infection has the greatest opportunity. I keep 70% and 91% isopropyl alcohol in spray bottles for this type of stuff. Isopropyl alcohol is only slightly more toxic to humans than ethanol. For those who have problems with the idea of using isopropyl alcohol (it’s no worse than using Star San which contains a detergent additive as its active ingredient), any 140 proof or higher clear liquor can be used as a sanitizer.
Yeah, there might have been some built up aggression behind it, but then I brewed and it calmed me down. I guess the problem is that you have to smack the pack before you brew. If I could have done it after I brewed, I would have been making sweet love and caressing the pack, maybe even taking it out to dinner, instead of smacking it. 
Pliers and a kitchen towel, my friends…
I have had smack packs split on me. After it happened to me a second time, I started placing the pack on my counter top, and popping the inner package with the heel of my palm. All it takes is steady downward pressure until the nutrient (inner) package pops.
Yeah, I have smacked countless packs with no issues either until today. Starter took off pretty quickly and everything seems to be going well.
I’ve had one pack where the seam split open and I don’t “smack” to break the nutrient bag. One of the seams just popped open while I was pushing with the heal of my hand. After the cleanup and ritual sacrifice, to ensure a good starter, I looked at the package found several spots where the seal was weak. In my case it was a heat sealer not doing it’s job correctly.
Paul
Mark, would this be a no-rinse sanitizer, or should I use some distilled water to rinse? Could I use your bleach/vinegar sanitizer instead, or does that take more time to be effective?
Don’t rinse
I am using an ax to smack those smackpacks. Is that not the right procedure?
It isn’t “wrong”, it’s just outdated information. Wyeast switched away from the 25 mL “axpacks” several years ago.
Awesome. I think the ‘machete packs’ didn’t go over well either.