Throw away yeast

[bikesandbeer]

In his book “Brew” James Morton states that his number one piece of advice to a kit brewer is to throw away the accompanying yeast and buy a new packet.

Is this something that people actually do?

 

[marshbrewer]

I don't do kits anymore, bit when I did, the answer would be 'sometimes'.

I almost exclusively used Cooper's kits, that I then modified with grains and hops. I've actually found the Cooper's kit yeast quite good, but would sometimes substitute it for Nottingham (Gervin).

 

[Bigcol49]

Hi @bikesandbeer
Always!

 

[stz]

It depends. Yeast loses viability under less than optimal storage conditions. Maybe the kit has sat on a warm shelf for a year or more. Even dry yeast likes being in the fridge and loses viability over time. The variety might be pretty rubbish. A lot of problems can be eliminated by pitching a known quantity and viability of good yeast, you will struggle to troubleshoot if the yeast in an unknown variable. But often you get away with things.

 

[Pirate_Pete]

It depends what it is. If it's kit yeast, then yes.
But if it's yeast that I've paid extra for then no.

I've got some S 04 in the fridge that I'll be using for the fourth time soon.
I've some Lager yeast that came out of an FV yesterday. That will be back in an FV by the end of the week.

 

[IainM]

I don't do kits any more, but when I did, I didn't. I subbed them out until I have 3 or so packets, then chucked the lot into the next brew to get a decent pitching rate.

 

[NIGHTSKY BREWING]

Does any one use Slants when they have new yeast.

 

[MmmBeer]

Most comments have been about the quality / condition of kit yeast. My biggest concern was the quantity, 5g instead of the 11g. I would always save up the kit sachets in the fridge and like IainM said use 2 or 3 packs per brew or if brewing a strong beer, use one with a full size packet.

 

[Sandimas]

My biggest concern was the quantity, 5g instead of the 11g. I would always save up the kit sachets in the fridge and like IainM said use 2 or 3 packs per brew or if brewing a strong beer, use one with a full size packet.

+1

Been brewing kits on and off for years, rarely had a bad yeast. The Coopers yeast is absolutely fine, never had a problem. Anything that was made by Muntons (including Woodfordes and St Peters) and came with a small 5g packet of yeast was liable to sticking, so I often either bought a proper 12g packet of yeast or just did a 10/11L bew with one of the two cans and used the kit yeast for that. Muntons have now started putting 2 x 5g packets of yeast in many of their kits.

 

[MyQul]

+1

Been brewing kits on and off for years, rarely had a bad yeast. The Coopers yeast is absolutely fine, never had a problem. Anything that was made by Muntons (including Woodfordes and St Peters) and came with a small 5g packet of yeast was liable to sticking, so I often either bought a proper 12g packet of yeast or just did a 10/11L bew with one of the two cans and used the kit yeast for that. Muntons have now started putting 2 x 5g packets of yeast in many of their kits.

I believe this is because @Chippy_Tea told em to?

 

[bobukbrewer]

I always hydrate dried yeast with a tiny quantity of brewing sugar and 1 gram of vitamin C powder - I get a 2 inch head in 2-3 hours, then pitch