Yeast starter

[brownbeard]

I got a packet of Wyeast 1214 Belgian Abbey yeast for my brew this weekend. I bought it at Benz on wednesday and smacked it. It swelled a little bit, but not much. Last night (thursday) I made a starter to try and get it going. I could smell the fermented beer when I opened the yeast pack, so I know it did something. I made a starter with a 1.04 gravity and aerated for 30 minutes also adding yeast nutrient. This morning, there is no real activity in the airlock, but there does seem to be some yeast collecting at the bottom. I hope this gets going before sunday. The date on the yeast pack was Nov. 08. Wyeast says it is best used in 6 months, but should just be slow after that.

[Matt F]

I have never used a pack that old. I usually try to make sure I use them before 6 months. My sister visits frequently from Des Moines and she has been picking up yeast for me at Beer Crazy in Des Moines. Their's are really fresh and only $5.75. I usually get 4 or so when I am there too. I do my starters at a very low gravity, 1.020 per Jamil's article in Zymurgy a couple years ago. I have had some fermentations start in less than an hour the last couple of brews following the calculations with his yeast calculator. I know I have had slower starts with some of the Belgian Strains. I say pitch it Sunday and see what happens. Worst case is you will have to get some new yeast and have a delayed start to fermentation. I am sure your sanitary practices will keep you safe.

[brownbeard]

I checked it over lunch today. There is definitely yeast forming on the bottom of the starter. But there is no noticeable activity in the airlock or the starter liquid. It is very still and calm. There is pressure, as the liquid in the air lock is all moved to the outbound side. But it is not bubbling through. I bought this at Benz. I think I need to avoid buying ingredients from them in the future. I have not been very happy with the quality.

[DrPaulsen]

I got a packet of Wyeast 1214 Belgian Abbey yeast for my brew this weekend. I bought it at Benz on wednesday and smacked it. It swelled a little bit, but not much. Last night (thursday) I made a starter to try and get it going. I could smell the fermented beer when I opened the yeast pack, so I know it did something. I made a starter with a 1.04 gravity and aerated for 30 minutes also adding yeast nutrient. This morning, there is no real activity in the airlock, but there does seem to be some yeast collecting at the bottom. I hope this gets going before sunday. The date on the yeast pack was Nov. 08. Wyeast says it is best used in 6 months, but should just be slow after that.

Wait -- Benz sell Wyeast? Where? Is it in the walk-in cooler? Do they charge 2-3x the market rate, like their hops?

[brownbeard]

Wait -- Benz sell Wyeast? Where? Is it in the walk-in cooler? Do they charge 2-3x the market rate, like their hops?

Walk in cooler, $6.99 I think. It was older, but after a little bit, it took off and fermented fine. They had 5 or 6 different strains. For local hops (in a pinch) HyVee on blairs ferry and center point is the place to go. I paid $3.99 per oz. for Saaz this weekend. I have been buying a lot of ingredients at the HyVee lately.

[Schlenkerla]

I read somewhere on Wyeast or NB'r that you should allow for 1 day for swelling for every month of age on the smack pack. Don't know if this is after the 6 mo expiration, but what can it hurt?

9-10 months. You could have smacked this last week and been OK by now.

I always buy a bunch of expired smack packs for 50% off at Beer Crazy in DM. I also culture so I save a little of the samples and routinely make starters.