Wyeast first time

[Brownbeard]

I am gonna brew batch number 2 on monday. It is a belgian white. I am gonna use Wyeast 3944 Belgian Witbier. The date on the pack is July '03. I will be brewing monday evening. Should I smack the night before, or the morning of?

[ray m]

I have no experience with Wyeast, myself, but I have read in magazines like BYO that those smack packs should be smacked 2 to 3 days ahead of time. I may be completely wrong, tho---I think that's what I read---did it come with any instructions, etc.??

[sallad]

smack it now! in about 8 hrs, boil up a starter and put it in there for the weekend. then you'll have tons of viable yeast ready for monday's brew!

i've used some older wyeast packets (2-3 months old) that have taken a full 24hrs to activate. if its from july, you should be fine!

[Brownbeard]

It had instructions, but no real time info. I have read 24 hours for every month. But this is from last month.

[sallad]

let me clarify.. if you don't use a starter, you should be fine with smacking the morning of. but i'd recommend using a starter if possible. there are plenty of threads on here that talk about how to do it, plus many other website with instructions too. typically, a starter should be made about 2 days in advance of brewing, and the smack pack ought to be smacked at least 6-8hrs before making the starter.

but, relax, don't worry and have a homebrew. be careful with sanatation and you'll be fine.

good luck and happy brewing!

[Tweek]

IF you have the inclination you really should make a starter. If the yeast is past its expiration then there will be less viable yeast and you want to give it all the help it can get. If you dont want to do that I would smack it just a little early, but I am not sure how early, I always make starters.

[Brownbeard]

Well, I am going to be out of town over the weekend, not returning until sunday evening, so, I was going to avoid the starter. I thought I would be OK not doing a starter.

[Fast_Eddy]

Before I started using starters I would smack mine(my yeast pack, that is) 24-36 hours before pitching.

[mcarlson74]

This is the rule of thumb that I was always told about smack packs. Take the number of monthes from the date on the smack and the current date and that is how many days ahead of time you should smack it. Example if your smack pack says Jul and it is Aug activate the yeast at least 1 day before you brew. If the date is Jun on the smack pack allow 2 days. Now this rule has failed me before and it has actually taken longer, but I use it as a general guidline. Personally I would activate the yeast tonight before I left either that or do it Sunday when you get back and if need be push back your brew day.

[Brownbeard]

Thanks for all the great advice. I am camping this weekend, and did not want to spend my weekend worrying that my starter was doing anything but what it should. Next batch, starter for sure.

[Brownbeard]

OK, another issue with this. Looking at Wyeast labs web site, they suggest using more than one XL pack for brews with OG over 1.056. The Brew I am doing lists an OG of 1.052-1.059. I am not gonna be able to get another smack pack before brewing. Is it going to be disasterous if I add a dry yeast pack to this for more yeast, or should I worry about it?

[Payson]

Activate your yeast the night before of earlier and you shouldn't have to worry about adding any extra.

[mcarlson74]

I have always used just one pack and have always been fine.

[Brownbeard]

As always, thanks for all the great advice.

[mcarlson74]

That's what we are here for, to help each other out.

[YamahaXS]

Originally posted by Brownbeard
OK, another issue with this. Looking at Wyeast labs web site, they suggest using more than one XL pack for brews with OG over 1.056. The Brew I am doing lists an OG of 1.052-1.059. I am not gonna be able to get another smack pack before brewing. Is it going to be disasterous if I add a dry yeast pack to this for more yeast, or should I worry about it?

No, it won't be disastorous. It will be good. Homebrewing is always good. :D

I wouldn't worry about buying another yeast pack.


/on soap box

I have pitched yeast everyway possible (because I am lazy, and make lazy beer) and have never had a problem from how or when I pitchyed my yeast. So, maybe your beer takes a little longer to get into the secondary. BIG DEAL! I don't care b/c I like lazy brewing. It certainly won't affect the taste, and even if it did, you wouldn't have a control group to compare it too so you won't notice it. Your beer will taste good no matter what, b/c you made it your self and its fresh, clean, and yours.

/off soap box

[mcarlson74]

How does beer get lazy? Does it sit around the house all day drinking itself watching football in its underwear? :D I'm sorry I couldn't resist

[barley ben]

As long as the pack swells, you don't have to worry. That means there are good yeast and they will take over from there.

And I do have to say, Brownbeard is right, this is a great forum. I wish I knew about it when I was just starting. I would have over run the server with all my questions.

[hemogoblin]

Originally posted by Brownbeard
OK, another issue with this. Looking at Wyeast labs web site, they suggest using more than one XL pack for


Don't sweat it. I have used Wyeast for about 7 batches, and have never used more than one pack, even for a pretty potent tripel ale (which was the best batch yet - yum).

Get an extra pound of malt sugar, tho, to keep around and make starters with. I use a sanitized wine bottle. Follow the starter-making instrux on the Wyeast packet. Pitch a swelled-up pack to a starter, wait about 12 hours, and you will have a huge yeast colony to pitch!

Then you can graduate to culturing yeast from bottles, which is double the fun ...

[YamahaXS]

Originally posted by mcarlson74
How does beer get lazy? Does it sit around the house all day drinking itself watching football in its underwear? :D I'm sorry I couldn't resist

Exactly! lol

[Brownbeard]

Just "smacked" the pack. Where else can you say that and not get instant smartassed remarks? It has 30 hours before I am brewing to swell, should be good to go, as it was made only 30 days ago.

[Fast_Eddy]

Originally posted by Brownbeard
Just "smacked" the pack. Where else can you say that and not get instant smartassed remarks?...

Dude you can smack your pack all you want but we don't need to hear about it :p

Couldn't resist!

[Brownbeard]

OK, brewing this evening. This morning, the yeast pack looks to be about 2 inches thick. I hope it doesn't explode.

[Brownbeard]

Got home today. After 30 hours, at 75 degrees, my yeast packet is fully expanded. It could not get any bigger.