Is Yeast Too Old

[mancer62]

Being a sceptic of many brst before deadlines I was wondering about the following. I have few packets of unopened yeast I purchased from Wilkos a couple of years ago. They have been stored in a box under my bed. Bin them or good to go???

 

[MrRook]

Dry yeast, I presume.
Dry yeast lasts a really long time, but to be safe add more than you would with fresher yeast.

 

[mancer62]

Its over 2 years old but still packed in its packet... Just that whenever I've made a W/Wherry the FG is always high. Heard it said a main reason for this is the small 6g pack of Muntons yeast provided.....I came across these packs of yeast while tidying at xmas and just wondered if they could be used. I have a Wilko IPA which I'm going to make at the weekend and was wondering if it would be ok to add a pack. If working what benefits would it give? Would it ferment faster and make the FG lower? Would it do any harm to add or possibly yes?

 

[Slid]

If you are asking whether to add an old pack of unopened yeast to a new brew plus new yeast, then the answer is it can do no harm at all. Fermenting faster is not really a meaningful aim for HB, since there is no commercial imperative to get the beer in the punter's glass in 10 days time. A low yeast cell count at pitching always causes problems and adding more dry yeast will help to avoid these.

Sticky ferments from poor yeast preparation cause high FG's and it is the properties of the yeast used that determine its lowest FG.

 

[LarryF]

Wilko's yeast is £1.75 a pack and considering it works so well when you re-pitch from the trub that you can very easily get 3 or 4 ( or more) brews out of one pack, why take the chance.

 

[Drunkula]

Also hydrate the yeast to give it more of a chance.