Out of date dried yeast

[man_beach]

This has probably been aired before but I couldn't find anything recent.

I bought 2 packs of Safbrew S-33 yeast in a homebrew shop while out for the day. It was only when I got home that I noticed that they had a 'best before' date of 02-2016.

Would the only problem with an out-of-date dried yeast be a reduction in viability? In that case, I could probably get it going well, in a yeast starter, before pitching.

Thanks.

[Fil]

they will be fine, if still unused in 6months time perhaps consider rehydrating before pitching which isnt a bad idea anyway,(case of do as i say not as i do as i often simply sprinkle on the beer ..)

BB dates on live cultures and wet yeasts bought are way more relevant but with dried yeast thats been stored well its an arbitary date plucked out of thin air

[rpt]

It's barely out of date so will be fine.

[barneey]

That reminds me I still have that sachet of Boots 20 /25 year old to use up.

[nbpicklesno2]

That reminds me I still have that sachet of Boots 20 /25 year old to use up.

It'll be fine. Barely out of date. After fifty years it may need rehydrating.

[man_beach]

Many thanks for the advice. I always rehydrate my dried yeast anyway (to make sure it's going OK) so I'll do the same with this batch too.

[millmaster]

For what its worth, I brewed up in January this year and discovered that I didnt have as quite as fresh a pack of yeast as I thought, the only pack I had ( Safale S-04 ) was dated 2013 ( three years old ) I rehydrated it and it took off like a rocket from SG 1062 to SG 1014 in 3 days, no off tastes, no noticable fermentation issues.

Whilst I would prefer not to use such old yeast again, I would have only limited concerns about it

[man_beach]

Used one of the packs yesterday and as with millmaster, it is also going off like a rocket. If the final brew tastes off, I'll post something here in a few weeks' time.