I'd like to make a Lager this weekend but the more I think about it, I may not get to do it this weekend. My primary dilemma being that my LHBS doesn't have WLP840 and I thought about ordering it from Morebeer.com but I live in Texas and the temperatures down here have been 95+. I was going to order several ice packs to be shipped with the yeast but I'm wondering if that would still ruin the yeast? Have any of you that live in hot areas experienced good luck with this?
If I order liquid yeast in the summer, I'll wait until a cooler spell to do so and add an extra ice pack or 2...haven't had too much trouble ordering in the 80's but I don't order liquid yeast when its over 90 personally. Can your LHBS order it for you in their next order? They may order more and use more/larger ice packs and have an overall cooler shipping process. I'm lucky that my LHBS orders weekly and I can get them to order liquid yeast for me, and they will guarantee it if it has any problems. Takes the headache away from me and puts it on them instead
I'd think they'd survive, but I'm not sure how hot a UPS truck gets in the Texas sun. Consider another Texas homebrew shop to ship your yeast. Maybe something out of Austin. It'll be there in two days. Morebeer looks like it's in CA and would probably take 3 or 4? You'd be making at least a 2 step starter. I'd plan to brew something else this weekend. Not the news you wanted to hear, I'm sure. Lagers are process-oriented. Good stuff has to go in.
I'm in a similar situation in Louisiana. I try to order all of the yeast I will need for April-Sept in April. Summer emergency yeast I use Austin Homebrew Supply.
I add the ice packs as mentioned. But I also anticipate when its going to arrive (tracking software these days helps alot) and go directly to a starter that night if possible; even if I am not ready to brew. I can always fraction out some of it and start it again when its time to brew. I live in MA and order from Morebeer quite often when I want something my LHBS doesn't have. Everything seems to work out pretty well.
Ever try a dry lager yeast? ...might be a better option in the Summer unless you can pick it up locally. https://www.williamsbrewing.com/DRY-LAGER-YEAST-C306.aspx
My recollection is that you get to select which warehouse your ingredients get shipped from; is that not the case? Cheers!
I wouldn't do it. It's been really hot in the NE. I don't even think a box of ice packs would last 2 days.
I haven't tried making a lager yet at all. So this will be my first go at it. I think I may try the 34/70.
I work at UPS as an Account Manager for commercial businesses. Plenty of businesses should stop ship frozen items that stay frozen for @2 days. The question is how is it packed? If ice packs are just thrown in a standard brown box the ice packs will be a gel pack. However, if they insulate the package it will stay cold. I would try to keep it to 2 days time in transit.
