[theDarkSide]

I just bought a smack pack of Wyeast Lager yeast today and it cost $11.75.  I wouldn't normally pay that much but I needed it sooner than later.

What is everyone else willing to pay for yeast?

I know I can get it cheaper online, but I'm not too crazy about it sitting in the UPS truck in this heat, even with the freezer packs (which probably only last a few hours ).  Another local option has it for $9.99, which also seems high.  Most of the places around me only have Wyeast, but it is the same for White Labs?  Is everything going up?  Is there a dreaded yeast "shortage"  ?

Also the yeast I got today is dated March 6, 2012 which means I'm going to need to step it up a few couple times to get the total yeast I need.  But when you procrastinate, you pay I guess 

[denny]

About $7-7.25 at the LHBS.  Dates are usually 1-2 weeks before I buy it.  It's good to live close to Wyeast!

[Slowbrew]

You made me pull out my last receipt (last week's trip) to find out.  I paid $6 each for Wyeast American Ale and American Wheat. 

I think I would delay my brewing schedule before I paid $11+ for a smack pack.

Paul

[morticaixavier]

an out of date smack pack at that!

[Kaiser]

with prices like this I'm surprised that there aren't more home brewers that maintain their own slants.

Kai

[davidgzach]

I pay $7.50, but like many, wash and reuse as much as possible.  I typically get 4-5 generations per packet/vial bought.  Looking in to maintaining slants per Kai as well.  Next level....

Dave

[denny]

with prices like this I'm surprised that there aren't more home brewers that maintain their own slants.

Kai

I did for several years, but finally decided it wasn't worth my time.

[davidgzach]

with prices like this I'm surprised that there aren't more home brewers that maintain their own slants.

Kai

I did for several years, but finally decided it wasn't worth my time.

Why?  I don't want to spend the $ on the equipment to come up with the same conclusion.  Washing and reusing is working just fine.

Dave

[nateo]

$1.95 for T-58, $3.25 for S-04, $4.95 for W-34/70

[skrag6713]

i'm in Cedar Rapids, IA, and i can't get yeast for less than $6 a package - dry or otherwise - without driving an hour 1 way to dubuque.  think i'm going to wait till this fall when the weather's cooler and order a bunch in bulk from there.

[denny]

with prices like this I'm surprised that there aren't more home brewers that maintain their own slants.

Kai

I did for several years, but finally decided it wasn't worth my time.

Why?  I don't want to spend the $ on the equipment to come up with the same conclusion.  Washing and reusing is working just fine.

Dave

It required a semi regular schedule of reslanting every few months.  As I've said many times, I'm basically lazy and I found it difficult to make time to do the maintenance that it took.  My main incentive was to make sure that I had CL50 around and once Wyeast started carrying it there really wasn't a big reason for me to continue.  Sure, it costs me some money now when I have to buy yeast, but it also frees up my time to do other stuff.

[nateo]

i'm in Cedar Rapids, IA, and i can't get yeast for less than $6 a package - dry or otherwise - without driving an hour 1 way to dubuque.  think i'm going to wait till this fall when the weather's cooler and order a bunch in bulk from there.

Rebel Brewer is the cheapest I've found. If you only order yeast you can get 4-5 packs with $3 shipping. My "local" store is a 1.5 hour drive and they're a bit more expensive, but not too crazy. I think they're <$7 for a smack pack, IIRC.

[The Professor]

I agree with Kai...and I feel that yeast should be by far the least costly aspect of brewing (like, almost no cost),  especially since it's so easy to maintain once you've got it.

I mainly use my house yeast (a mixed strain originally, the dominant factor being unknown and surely mutated anywy after 20+ years)....at this point I technically owe the yeast money.   

I've maintained it since at least the late 1980s and after re-culturing it I'll re-ptich it anywhere from 8-12 times before starting over with a new re-culture or, infrequently, a round of brews with a smack pack from which I'm also able to coax at least 8 or more brews.

[Kaiser]

Why has yeast become so expensive? Is it because they package more yeast or is out because homebrewers will pay that much?

Maintaining a yeast bank is a pain. But so is ordering yeast. I buy brewing ingredients maybe once our twice a year.

Kai

[a10t2]

The last few times I've ordered smack packs they've been $6-7.

I do replace them every couple years, just because a new "master" culture is so cheap. So my per-batch cost is probably about a dollar, on average. Even at $11/pack the per-batch cost would be negligible relative to the rest of the ingredients (which, in turn, are negligible relative to my time).