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Author Topic: What happens to yeast when it freezes for 12 hours?  (Read 949 times)

Offline benamcg

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What happens to yeast when it freezes for 12 hours?
« on: December 13, 2014, 07:15:38 am »
Well, I forgot to put the temp probe back in the chest freezer after cleaning it out and placing new kegs in.  So, 12 hours later, I have found frozen yeast slurries in 1 qt Ball jars.  Are they goners?  I have taken them out to allow for them to return to basement temperatures (55-60 F) before returning them the chest freezer (if they are OK).  My gut says that I have reduced some of the viability.  I imagine the beer will be fine once it acclimates.

Offline dmtaylor

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Re: What happens to yeast when it freezes for 12 hours?
« Reply #1 on: December 13, 2014, 07:22:03 am »
Some if not all of the yeast will be dead.  You could try making starters and see if it works.  But I wouldn't bet on it.
Dave

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Offline majorvices

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Re: What happens to yeast when it freezes for 12 hours?
« Reply #2 on: December 13, 2014, 08:21:51 am »
I bet you could make starters with it but you definitely killed a large portion of them.