I have a number of packets of Safale US-05 that have been in my kitchen freezer for “a long time.” My freezer gets so cold that frozen dinners and breakfasts pop right out of their plastic bowls with just a little push against the underside. Literally, so cold that tomato sauce or Swedish Meatball sauce won’t stick to the coated bowls of Marie Callender’s frozen entrées. Makes it easy to pop them out of the bowls, straight into a two-quart casserole and then into my microwave. I’m guessing it’s 0° Fahrenheit in there.
Two with Best-By Date of 7/15/23 (503 days, as of 11/28/24); two with BBD of 9/15/23 (440 days, as of 11/28/24); one with BBD of 11/15/23 (379 days, as of 11/28/24) and three with BBD of 12/15/23 (349 days, as of 11/28/24).
Would being so cold for so long have such an effect that the yeast is no longer viable? Today is Thanksgiving Thursday and my LHBS is closed (open tomorrow). Doubtful I can get there tomorrow because without me, FedEx Ground in the Reno, NV area would come to a grinding, screeching, smoking, sparkling halt. I fully expect to be sent down the road tomorrow and to be back home on Saturday night. The LHBS is closed Sundays and Mondays. I will most certainly be gone again come Tuesday, Dec 3.
My manager and I had a loud, long, profane and vulgar conversation about how much I work, and I’m now told a few days after that nose-to-nose exchange of ideas that he’s going to start running me on the weekends versus having me up at 0600 seven days a week, suited-up and ready to go by 0900-- and then sit on pins and needles at home until 1100 - 1200… which is when he calls and tells me that I’m not going out today. The day is pretty much shot by that time, and it was really hosing me off that I could have done other things with those six-some hours. So maybe things will change, now. We shall see…
I have numerous of the small, gold foil packets that come in extract kits. I don’t trust that these will work even when they’re “fresher than fresh,” so I do not use them.
That is beyond excellent to know! No need now to go to my LHBS, which is near 75 miles per round trip.
I have a good number of pounds of canned & flavored malt, along with almost eighteen pounds of unhopped liquid malt. The Amber was put in my icebox in mid-October 2022; the Pale at some months later. Unknown to me why I failed to put a date on the Pale’s Hawaiian Punch jug. I know the Amber is older because my desire was to make a hoppy Porter-- which has yet to obtain. Then I discovered IPAs after which I am sure, the Pale was purchased.
I ask about these liquids because I was just reading the mr. beer site, and one reviewer posted that he had made beer from expired kit cans. That reviewer wrote that the beer made from his expired can was “HORRENDOUS.” I’d like to avoid such a tragic mistake.
If you’re concerned by your old yeast, buy two back of fresh yeast and keep them on hand when you brew. Rehydrate the yeast; if it doesn’t bloom, then it’s dead. Use the fresh yeast.
Just ordered six packets of US-04 through amazon. I assume the best-by dates will be a year or two down the road from today. I’ve never used US-04; I chose it because I’ve read it’s a “better” yeast than is US-05. Once I get these US-04 packets, I’ll trash the US-05 ones that have been chillin’ in my kitchen freezer for two to three years. I expect to have no trepidations about the viability of the yeast once I brew my first batch since February of 2021…
Great to see you taking the initiative to get some fresh yeast. You’re making a smart choice, especially given how long those packets of US-05 have been hanging around. As you noted, fermentation yeast can indeed remain viable for quite some time, especially if stored at colder temperatures. However, the age and unknown conditions of your older yeast definitely warrant caution.
If you decide to keep experimenting with different yeasts, it’s always good to have a backup plan. As Denny mentioned, if you ever find your older packets not performing, rehydrating them is an excellent way to test their viability. If they don’t bloom, you can safely move on to your fresh yeast.
Once you get your US-04 packets, give them a try and see how you like the profile. And remember, everyone has different preferences in yeast characteristics. It might be fun to compare results from the US-05 and US-04 in future brews. Happy brewing!
I pitched some S-04 with a Best By Date in 2015 to help my stalled OYL-016 Honker’s Ale. A little canned starter wort and into the fermenter after a day on the stir plate. Got the beer finished to 1.014.
The US-04 yeast arrived today; is good until June of 2026. That’s eighteen months. I should be able to find several hours on one day during the next 540 days to mix-up a batch of extract beer. We shall see.
This yeast will be kept in my refrigerator at 40-some degrees; will not go into my freezer.
What’s the meaning of the term “bloom” with regard to the yeast? I never look at mine again after it gets sprinkled onto the wort and the lid gets hammered into place…