Yeast vial infected?

[Fremont Brewer]

Last night I opened up a vial of WLP007 to pitch in to my starter. When I went to open the vial, gas started coming out of it. It was pressurized. It was almost like a bottle of soda that had been shaken up. I couldn't even barely crack the cap open without yeast spewing out. There were even bubbles coming out of solution as if it was carbonated.

Has anyone ever experienced this? Was it infected?

Thanks,
John

[Whitebeard_Brewer]

Yup, happens all the time.....make your starter, and see how it smells......I'm sure it's fine!!!

[Fremont Brewer]

Yup, happens all the time.....make your starter, and see how it smells......I'm sure it's fine!!!

You have seen this too? Have you used them like this and they turned out ok? I mean this was really pressurized! I wish I would have taken a video of it. I ended up dumping it out. I will buy another today.

Thanks Whitebeard
John

[Whitebeard_Brewer]

I have never dumped a vial of White Labs yeast, and never had an infection due to the yeast. Some are more pressurized than others.....that's why I make starters, if it smells funky, it might be infected, but knowing WL....I'd highly doubt it.

[brewinhard]

When you give those vials a good shake they do seem quite carbonated upon opening. You did not have an infected vial, rather a supply of yeast ready for feeding!

[Dirk McLargeHuge]

When you give those vials a good shake they do seem quite carbonated upon opening. You did not have an infected vial, rather a supply of yeast ready for feeding!

A healthy supply, I might add. I like to see it do that.

[maxwell]

It happens all the time, especially if you leave it out of the fridge for a while before pitching. I've never noticed any kind of contamination associated with white labs yeast.

Max

[Bugeater]

This happens quite often for me when I let the vial warm all the way up to room temperature. I let it warm up a bit, dip the entire thing in Star San and then open very slowly to vent any gas. I then pour right into some room temperature starter wort and place on the stir plate.

Wayne