Accidentally froze my Wyeast - is it f**cked?

[MickDundee]

Just went to dry hop my latest brew, and discovered that my London Ale III that I was going to use for my next brew was sitting right at the back of the hop/yeast/bottle shelf of the kwgerator and had a couple of big bits of ice in it. It’s use by the end of the month as well.

Can someone put my mind at ease - I’ll obviously do a starter with it but might need to have a backup yeast ready!

 

[Brewnaldo]

Just went to dry hop my latest brew, and discovered that my London Ale III that I was going to use for my next brew was sitting right at the back of the hop/yeast/bottle shelf of the kwgerator and had a couple of big bits of ice in it. It’s use by the end of the month as well.

Can someone put my mind at ease - I’ll obviously do a starter with it but might need to have a backup yeast ready!

I did exactly this with Wyeast Belgian yeast and it turned out probably the best beer I have made.

 

[Brew_DD2]

Just went to dry hop my latest brew, and discovered that my London Ale III that I was going to use for my next brew was sitting right at the back of the hop/yeast/bottle shelf of the kwgerator and had a couple of big bits of ice in it. It’s use by the end of the month as well.

Can someone put my mind at ease - I’ll obviously do a starter with it but might need to have a backup yeast ready!

Should be fine. Maybe get a vitality starter on asap and see if you have activity by the morning. If not, get an order in to CML.

 

[IainM]

Do a starter it'll be fine.

 

[grooves]

☝

 

[JockyBrewer]

If it wasn't entirely ice then it's probably fine. Ice crystals are the danger here as they puncture the yeast cells.

I'd make a small starter with it soon to find out. Store that starter until you want to brew and then you can step it up again.