Wyeast Liquid Yeast

[Heals]

Hey guys, I've got a bit of a problem.. :S

I bought my first pack of Wyeast liquid yeast this week and I'm making a brew atm, I've done my best to follow the instructions and find the sachet inside and smack the bloody thing but it doesn't seem to be puffing up! How long does it take before I notice it starting to puff up the package? How hard do I need to hit it?

I'm worried I'll break the outer package if I wack the thing any harder!

[cliffo]

The inner packet can sometimes be a bit of a bugger and likes to slide away from my hand rather than let me pop it.

I find the easiest way is to work it into a corner and cut off any escape routes then pop the sucker with one or two well aim smacks.

Don't be afraid to give it a good whack, highly unlikey you would break the outer packaging.

[warra48]

They can take a while to swell up, particularly if they are a little older. It can take anything from a couple of hours to 2 or 3 days.

You can be quite vigorous in whacking it, you won't break the outer pack. I find it best to locate the inner pack, then make sure it is in one corner of the pack. I lie it flat, and use one hand to keep the inner pack in the corner, and then apply steady but hard pressure with the knuckles of the other hand. It will smack.

If you don't want to wait, you can always add it to a starter of approx 1.040 wort.
My last pack of WY2001 didn't swell, but it worked fine in a starter. It fermented an AG Bohemian Pils from 1.059 to 1.013 in 10 days at 9.5ºC.

[Heals]

I think it's starting to swell but it's just a bit slower than I had expected. Am I able to throw caution to the wind and just pitch it now, regardless?

[Zuma]

If you have made up your wort I'd defitnely pitch it.

[Ross]

Heals,

what's the beer?

cheers Ross

[timmy]

According to the lads at G&G, you should allow a day for each month it is past it's 'best before' date.

I've had some that have taken over a week to get started. Bottom line is be patient....

Cheers,

Tim

[lethaldog]

According to the lads at G&G, you should allow a day for each month it is past it's 'best before' date.

I've had some that have taken over a week to get started. Bottom line is be patient....

Cheers,

Tim

Yep ive had a couple of out of date packs that have taken a little longer than recommended but they will still work, as timmy said just be patient and let it happen!

[chadjaja]

I found out today if you have a wyeast pack and its got some swelling in it its almost impossible to break the nutrient sachet

I've got a pack of 1056 APA and although only a month after being made it was slightly swollen. After taking it out of the fridge it swelled up a bit more and there was no way I could work the sachet to a corner to smack it without probably busting the entire pack. (I looked it up and IT DOES happen LOL) After a few hours it was pretty swollen, prob at about half or more of what you expect if I had of smacked it. I still pitched it to my starter that I'm splitting up between 6 bottles, I dare to say it should only add a bit of lag time to the whole process.

Will it effect the amount of yeast cells in my starter? I thought the nutrient solution was only really to validate the yeast as viable.

Does this yeast almost always have some swelling to it? Thats the word I got from G&G and Dave's HB where I bought it, apparently its common to this strain.

[chadjaja]

I should update this to say the lag time was only 2-3 hours or probably a bit less Been bublbling away all night and today with a good krausen on it that has dropped slightly. All going well here it seems

I'll let it go to tomorrow night when its 48 hours old and split it up after the footy as a happy Demon fan fresh from a smashing of the Pies!

[chadjaja]

Well all is good in liquid yeast town Thanks to all the vets here that posted easy to follow and great info in other threads on what to do and what not to do.

Anyway they say a picture says a thousand words so I thought I'd post some.

Firstly to the newbs this is all you really need. funnel, 2L coke bottle, bung and airlock although you could just use alu foil if you like.



And I've split the fermented out 1L starter into 6 300ml pet bottles. (pub squash from Coles at $4 for a slab of 12 if you care)

And here is what I think good looking yeast in the bottom of them after being in the bottle and fridge for only 8 hours. Ready to make into starters any time I feel. I think I like this liquid yeast thing

[svyturys]

Those last couple of pictures were a bit porn, Chad.
(Or am I confusing them with some spam that entered the site over the weekend?

[chadjaja]

Just detailed thats all Al LOL

Now of course the words porn and yeast infection can be totally related

[drsmurto]

Nice pics, pity about the football....... you blokes have taking sucking to a new level....priority pick anyone?

[chadjaja]

Thanks Doc. So I take it they look perfect. If my yeast was my footy team it would of smelt like rotten eggs. At least we are earning out picks unlike other navy blue teams But what can I do? Jump off the wagon or tough it out and support them.

[drsmurto]

Yep, starter looks good. I dont use an airlock, just cover it with gladwrap.

Footy - take it on the chin and look forward to next season, or the season after that. My team (Crows) is doing better than expected whilst the young'uns get plenty of game time so i'm pretty happy so far. If we make the finals then i will be very happy but i tipped a bottom 8 finish this year.