I bought my dad a Mr. Beer home Brewing Kit about a year ago for his birthday. It came with a small packet of dry Brewers yeast. Do you guys think the yeast is still good/active after a year? We have just kept it out in the open, we haven't refridgerated it or anything....
Usually it has a expiration date. Hard to tell, but probably not very good. Next time freeze it. Yeah, it lasts years that way.
well what you can do is add the yeast to a couple of cups of wort (just dissolve some DME or corn sugar into clean water) if the yeast is still alive, it will take off within a day, then just add the starter to your wort when you are ready to pitch. Just make sure you sanitize the jar and keep out contaniments. I use a mason jar with the lid loosened so that pressure doesn't build up in the jar.
Yep, always proof your yeast. I learned the hard way that marginal yeast will take off in a cup of warmish water with a bit of sugar, but will probably die if pitched dry. And always, always keep the yeast in the fridge or freezer, dry. It'll last years that way. BD = avid homebrewer & winemaker PS: it's a LOT cheaper to just go to a brewshop and get the real brewmaking equipment/ingredients, and it's a damnsight tastier. Cheers!
Thanks for the info. I didn't trust the stuff that came with the kit, so that night I ran to a local liquor store and picked up some non-expired yeast packets, and used them. The next day I checked out the keg and it was foaming nicely, so the yeast was alive and kicking! In a few weeks, I get to test it out! wowooo!
Disclaimer: Not good practices, if you are new to brewing, do not do this. I rolled out another batch last night, and also kegged a previous batch. I was going to re-use the yeast from the previous batch, but then a friend asked why i don't just pour the new batch into the old carboy. Well, we had had a few of homebrews (and a bit of tequilia) so instead of saying that there was "crud in the trub", i said "hmmm, why not!?" Hahaha hopefully my beer won't be tainted. Fermentation was already going full-bore 8 hours later.
