Slap pack question

"How will this effect my yeast?" No real effect other than it might take a tad longer to swell since the yeast will only become active when the pack is warm (room temperature).

I personally wait until the pack is at warm temperature before smacking but that is just my choice. It is perfectly OK to smack a pack when cold.

This is a case where Relax, Don't Worry, Have a Homebrew is the proper mantra.

Cheers!

 

But keep in mind, it's never ok to smack a bitch

Fluff, the pack just contains some sugar and maybe a bit of nutrients. There's no real difference either way. Some people even wait until just prior to pitching the yeast to pop it or even throw out the thingy (industry term) entirely

 

Smack it cold, smack it warm, or don't smack it at all. The tiny amount of sugar in the smackpack pouch isn't going to affect your starter or the final beer in any important way. It's there to provide visible evidence that there are live yeast. If there were another benefit, by now everyone would be buying Wyeast yeast and nobody would be buying White Labs yeast. Some will say it "wakes up" the yeast. Maybe so, but what's the objective, measurable benefit of that? The yeast will "wake up" in your starter, if you're making one, or if not, in the beer wort.

Some people think the inner pouch is in itself a yeast starter. It's not, and you won't get significant cell growth from it. You mentioned you are making a starter, which is great.

 

Courtesy of the Wyeast FAQ:

2. Is the yeast in the small inner packet or in the foil pouch itself?

The yeast is in the main foil pouch. The small inner packet contains the sterile nutrient and wort that feeds the yeast before it is added to your fermenter. First, the package and the nutrient packet are sterilized (autoclaved) then the yeast is added and the package is sealed.

3. Can I use an Activator package without activating it and waiting for it to swell? ?

Yes. An Activator pack has enough yeast in it to pitch 5 gallons whether it is activated or not. There will only be a slightly longer lag time if the package is not activated before use. In any case, the nutrient pack should be popped before using because it contains valuable nutrients. Typically, the Activator can be activated when you start your brew and will be swollen by the time your wort is cool .

4. Does the package need to be fully swollen before pitching?

No, The package can be pitched before activating, or at anytime during the activation process. The activation process "jump starts" the culture's metabolism, minimizing the lag phase.

5. Does the cell count increase when the package is activated?

The cell count does not increase significantly when the package is activated.. The smack-pack is not designed to dramatically increase the cell count, it simply “activates” the yeast metabolism.


Cheers!

 

Marketing hype. That tiny amount of sugar is basically doing nothing. Do you think that tiny amount of sugar somehow prepares them for propagation in a completely different environment? Hint: they are not propagating in the smack pack, no matter how many times you smack it.

If you want to minimize the lag phase, make a properly sized starter, and stop relying on manufacturers' dumbed down recommendations like "An Activator pack has enough yeast in it to pitch 5 gallons..."

 

That's not exactly true and not deserving of bold type manufacturer hype. Not imo.
The nutrient pack isn't sugar. But it might also not be a big deal either. As for if one pack can ferment 5 gallons, that all depends on og, and what are your expectations? One pack will absolutely ferment any wort. But yes best practice is to build a starter. That's not always practical for all brewers, not even advanced hombrewers.
Cheers

 

Why do you say that? Surely sugar is what makes the yeast (the lucky few who get some) produce CO2, swelling the pack.

I agree. One pack will always make beer. But quality is also a consideration.

I don't see why not. All it takes is a little planning.

 

What if I don't smack it and they don't wake up...should I set an alarm clock near the pack to wake them up prior to adding to the fermenter...how long before dumping in the fermenter should I wake them up...should I hit snooze a few times...

 

I prefer to wake them up with some light spooning and gentle nuzzling. Personal preference really but I think the brews taste better that way!

 

the idea behind the smack pack is two fold. for one, it is a proof of yeast activity. if the pack swells then you know the yeast are active. two, the pack is called a nutrient pack and is intended to bring the yeast to a point where they are fit to begin the task of fermenting wort. dormant yeast are not at a stage that is most conducive to active fermentation. the pack wakens the yeast from their sleep and makes them ready for hard work.

so the pack is in one part a security blanket. but in another and more important way the smack pack helps to condition the yeast for the very hard work of fermenting wort into beer. it helps to prepare the yeast from dormancy to active fermentation.

to be honest, Wyeast is very clear about this and i am surprised that this basic information is up for debate.
Cheers.

 

Amen!

Cheers to you Bill!!

 

How?

Making claims about "jump starting" metabolism, without saying how, or even stating what's in the packet doesn't seem very clear to me. It sounds like marketing hype.

Perhaps you can explain how it works, Jack, since your belief is so fervent.

 

Vike, clearly a gram of sugar will help acclimate an old pack of yeast to a 5 gallon mid-gravity brew better than would a starter. Not sure what isn't clear about that.



(sarcasm)

 

Folks like to state that the inner pouch of a Wyeast Smack pack solely contains sugar but that is not the case. The inner pouch contains vital nutrients for the yeast including zinc.

Below is from the book How to Brew by John Palmer:

“Additions of zinc can greatly improve the cell count and vigor of the starter, but adding too much will cause the yeast to produce excessive by-products and cause off-flavors. Zinc acts as a catalyst and tends to carry over into the succeeding generation—therefore it is probably better to add it to either the starter or the main wort but not both. The nutrient pouches in the Wyeast smack-packs already contain zinc in addition to other nutrients.”

Cheers and Amen!



(Non sarcasm)

 

I don't disagree that zinc is vital to a healthy fermentation, but so is a starter. The smack pack gives people a false sense of security that simply because the pack inflates that it's ready to ferment beer. That is simply not the case.

 

A starter is not required for a low-moderate gravity ale. That is indeed the case.

Cheers!

 

It absolutely is if the yeast is not fresh.

 

so you are saying that the starter pack isn't marketing hype after all?