Liquid yeast might have been available to YOU in the early 90s, but I never saw any until later. The shop I started going to in Allentown PA from 1990-~1993 had brown hops in paper bags and packs of dried yeast. You got what you got. Sounds like you had a better homebrew shop.
Brew and Grow. I still shop there.
For some reason, they also carried a wide variety of hot sauces back then. So we’d get a couple bottles that would go on burritos at 2 or 3am. 911 Sauce, Hot Bitch at the Beach, stuff like that.
Those were the days.
Yes, I am done with the single packs and with how easy a starter is, that is my route from now on. I also don’t see a need for lag time if I can properly avoid it with the right amount of yeast.
I am mentoring someone who is where I was three years ago (although I’ve never used Wyeast, so the “smack pack” stuff is all his).
Him (accompanied by picture of carboy): why hasn’t my beer started fermenting yet?
Me: (among other questions) did you make a starter?
Him: I smacked the smack pack.
Me: next time, make a starter.
Him (a few hours later, new picture, this time with krausen): look, it finally started, 12 hours later!
Me: next time, make a starter.
Him: thanks for your help! I love brewing!
Me: next time, make a starter.