Beer Forum

I pitched a Wyeast smack pack in a good starter and I believe the yeast is bad. Nothing after 24 hrs. I planned a backup and have a tube of White Labs. Could I just pitch this on top of the Wyeast in the starter jug, or should I start from scratch with a new starter?

thanks, Gary

When was the born on date on the package? Did you smack the pack first to let it swell a bit to check for viability? At what temperature did you pitch the yeast into your starter? What strain was it? When you swirl the starter do you see any formation of krausen or gas evolution? What color is the yeast on the bottom of the starter?

In my experience 2124 can take awhile to get going in a starter. There has been more than occasion where I was starting to get concerned but just let it go and it got moving after a day or two. Now I just expect it with that yeast.

I don't see 2124 mentioned anywhere in the original post of subsequently but I will say that I have used (or rather tried to use) this strain once. It would not start. Two slap packs of the yeast in about 3 gallons of about 1.035 wort with nutrient and plenty of oxygen did nothing for several days. At this point the broth started to smell and it wasn't of yeast. I assumed I just had a bad couple of slap packs and was planning to get a couple more and start over again. I wonder if another strain might not be a better idea.

Hey thanks for all the replies. Okay brew day was coming, per another post recommendation I made a new starter, and used White Labs Cry Havoc instead. The Wyeast Bohemian Lager did finally get going yesterday. I will ferment this out, decant it and save it for another day. However I think I will stick with White Labs in the future. I have never had a problem with their yeast. In fact my local HBS doesn't carry Wyeast anymore.

Just for your perspective, this is my first problem with Wyeast. But I've had lots of problems with White Labs. In fact my LHBS doesn't carry White Labs any more because he had so many complaints. So there it is! You decide.

I hope your definition of a "good starter" includes the use of a stir plate??

*** NEVER *** had a problem with a Wyeast pack. Even 6 months past date survive and ferment well.

I think no matter who you use (at least Wyeast vs White Labs) you've got good stuff going into the package. It's all about what happens to the package afterwards. No matter how high the quality of yeast if it's not handled well it'll get dead.

I'd be surprised if you contacted Wyeast and they didn't make it right. Or the person you bought it from should.