Wyeast Smack Pack

[Croni486]

Hi,

I'm just putting the final touches together for my first AG brew this Friday.

The smack pack that I'm using was already quite swollen when it arrived last Friday so it went straight into the fridge. The nutrient pack didn't feel like it was broken.

I've just made up my yeast starter and pitched the yeast and it's sat quite happily on my stir plate.

Will the yeast still be OK even though the pack had already started to swell or am i better off getting a new one?

 

[IainM]

If you are making a starter it should be fine.

 

[DoctorMick]

I agree with @IainM, I've had a pack which was swollen for a couple of weeks but having made a starter it was absolutely fine.

 

[strange-steve]

Yeah it'll be absolutely fine, the following is from Wyeast's FAQs:

1. The Wyeast package at my LHBS is slightly swollen. Is it still OK to use?

Yes. Trace levels of fermentable carbohydrates or CO2 in yeast slurries at the time of packaging may cause a slight expansion in packages. “Off gassing” is a result of a small amount of metabolism or simply CO2 being released from the media and can occur with proper storage. This does not indicate the mishandling of the product or a decline in the health or purity of the culture. Some strains, including 1056 and 1388, are more prone to “off gassing” than others.

 

[Crystal_Ball]

Yeah it'll be absolutely fine, the following is from Wyeast's FAQs:

Glad I saw this post as I have 2 x 1056 in the fridge and one of them is slightly swollen. Recently purchase a glass flask to do a starter so at least I'm prepared.

 

[Croni486]

Thanks for the replies, looking at the stir plate the starter seems to be fermenting and i can already see what i think is the increase of yeast cell swirling around the flask.

 

[yeastinfection]

https://youtu.be/oz9_6QWElyk

I found this informative .I've just bought a wyeast smack pack. I didn't know how to use it