White Labs production date

[jm]

According the JZPRC the production date is 4 months before the "best before" date on the vial. Yet I just bought a vial of 001 that has a best before date of May 14. Obviously it's impossible that this vial was produced and shipped 1400 miles this morning. Has White Labs changed the best before date to be more than 4 months from production? Could the label be a misprint?

[jm]

Something is up. The vial of 630 I got today also had a best before 14 May 2011 and the shop said they got it in Friday. How many days does White Labs think are in a month...35?

[brewinhard]

I have seen some interesting print dates as well on vials I have purchased in the past. I just chalked it up to a misprint and used the yeast anyway. But I sure love getting those vials in my hands before they are actually packaged!!

[jm]

I have seen some interesting print dates as well on vials I have purchased in the past. I just chalked it up to a misprint and used the yeast anyway. But I sure love getting those vials in my hands before they are actually packaged!!

At least I'm not the only one getting yeast from the future. If only I could get my future beer today...

[thatguy314]

Yeah. It doesn't match up at all. I think they've changed their practices a bit.

I had a vial of WLP300 (yes I know weizen is not as shelf stable) that was best before March 21st. Using Nov 21st as a production date, I brewed up a 2L starter for 5 gallons of weizen, it looked thin, so I did a count, too low (only about 75 billion, not the 175 billion Mr Malty calc said it would have). I pitched it into another 1.2 liter starter, and then just barely got enough cells. for a low gravity weizen. Obviously something has changed on the production date labeling.

[jm]

I emailed White Labs about it and they said it was a misprint and they're sending me a coupon for a free vial. Kick ass customer service kicks ass.

[Mills]

I wonder if that is what happened with my mislabeled 838 yeast starter? Mmmm....

Mills