Frozen Yeast

[Freon12]

I have a small amount of Pilsner Urquell yeast on a slant. My frig control went out and the yeast was subjected to 14f for 8 hrs. Is it dead? Or can I wake it up and it be worth using?

[andytv]

I recently received an overdue shipment of Wyeast from my supplier. Unexpected bad weather delayed delivery, and I feel that the package was frozen at one point. When I opned the package and examined the contents, I felt ice inside the slap pack of yeast. I thawed and started incubation os normal. The yeast was dated 10/2001 so I expected slow goings. Ther result; after 12 hrs, the yeast pkg showed signs of expansion, and was at full force within 24.

I assume that the nutrient portion was compleltly frozen, and I got the package as it was thawing (UPS trucks are heated).

My yeast produces a great Munich Helles, yet I don't know for sure what the answer to your question is, have you tried proofing the yeast in question?? Let me know, I am interested and there sure isn't much info on the subject out there.

[Freon12]

I put the old magnetic stir plate to work and after 2 days I got some air lock action. I then stepped it up to 1000ml. The resultant beer has a strange and slightly harsh flavor that is not normal for this beer, I am sure is yeast related. I am still aging it, maybe it will mature out?
Maybe the frozen yeast is less agressive than before. I say this because may F.G. was 2 pts high.

[andytv]

It stinks that your batch didn't turn out as expected, my experience really can't be written into law since I have no idea how frozen the yeast/starter became. Because the beer turened out good, I assume that it had only begun to freeze. I looked online for the answer to your question, and have found nothing, have you tried contacting Wyeast (www.wyeastlab.com) they are pretty responsive to most inquiries.

[Freon12]

My reply from the lab was "don't freeze the yeast"
I think maybe how it is frozen and at what tempreture is a variable I may play around with. It may lead to a long term storage solution. Maybe I'll visit the Sperm bank with a bottle of Abby.(I hope this is not "rude or vulger" due to the scientific nature of this)