I’ve made a deal with my LHBS to buy 4 packs of 1056 each week, if I get the freshest stuff he has…
So yesterday I stop by to pick up this weeks yeast, and what’s the date? Aug072012
Wow. No complaints there.
But I wonder, how much does a week or two after packaging REALLY matter
Great to live near Wyeast, huh? I often get packs dated justv a day or 2 before I buy them. But I doubt a week or so will make a lot of difference.
Denny, do you order your yeast in advance to get fresher product?
Nope, I just pick it up at the Home Fermenter Center as needed. Some varieties stick around longer, but ones like 1056 and a few others are always really fresh.
Thought I would check Mr. Malty to see what the degradation rate is. Seems it’s programmed to lose 5% of viability per week…
Dave
Really sucks, because I routinely get sent viles and packs of yeast that are a month or two old, some even older. It makes me really wonder why I brew with liquid yeast sometimes. Starters are fine to make, but I don’t care much for having to step them up several times just to brew a beer that is 1.045 OG.
Beersk,
I don’t think you have to steep up several times. A single step should be just fine if you are starting with a vial or pack.
Kai
+11
Very fortunate indeed, I can often get yeast less than a week “old”. I usually go in with a few in mind and go with what is most fresh.
For a several month old vial?
Don’t know about vials, but it’s fine with smack packs. I just put 9 month old smackpack into a 2 qt. starter and it’s fermenting away happily.
Even if the vial is at 25% viability you still have about 25 B cells in there and that is sufficient for a 2-3 qt starter.
Kai
I’m sorry in advance if I am off-topic; if there’s a better place please move me.
Anyway, I got a nice cake from an Oktoberfest; i was thinking about using for a Boh Pils. Just racked the beer off after 2 weeks of primary so i am guessing it’s still pretty fresh. Probably wont brew for a couple days, so what’s yer method for storing? I put about 500ml of the slurry in a flask and topped up to 1l. with water. Do you think i should add some wort to rev it up or direct pitch?
I put the slurry in one of these jobs: http://www.ebay.com/itm/1-QT-Servin-Saver-Beverage-Bottle-1776348-Rubbermaid-/230717249593?_trksid=p3284.m263&_trkparms=algo%3DSIC%26its%3DI%26itu%3DUCI%252BIA%252BUA%252BFICS%252BUFI%26otn%3D21%26pmod%3D330719125708%26ps%3D54
and then stick it in the fridge. If you use it within two weeks, you can probably direct pitch it. Longer than that you might want to make a starter.
Ha! I got one of those exact same containers from the grocery store on my way to a brewery for fresh yeast once. I also store yeast in wide plastic jars, like the ones that mixed nuts come in.
My LHBS sells extract in 1/2 gal. plastic containers with snap on lids. I bought a few of them for about buck apiece and store yeast in them.
ive bought way outdated white labs yeast at discount from lhbs, and works fine, will often make a starter, but on a recent lager (only 2gallons) i pitched whole bottle no probs
1 for Mason jars.
Kai
Not sure if you guys have Gold Peak Tea in your stores, but it tastes great and the 59oz size carafe is great for storing/reusing yeast.
Dave
My local Ace Hardware had a sale on pint mason jars, 12-pack for $7. I’ll be attempting to wash my yeast for the first time.
My LHBS here in Denver gets fresh Wyeast fairly regularly, especially the popular strains. I just did a Saison and used 3711, which was only 11 days past the date stamp.
+2 for Mason jars (currently).
But my collection keeps growing and is taking over my fridge. I think I should move to preforms and a little rack.