Sorry to drag up and old thread but these Wyeasy Smackies while I think are a great idea are really starting to give me the 'ump.... <_<
For the second time in a row I've had the pack burst on me after smacking. It seriously winds me up that when you do smack these things you have no idea whether the nutrient sack has in fact burst or not, and if you smack too hard you can break the whole seal, meaning you lose your hard earned cash or continue and pray that nothing nasty crawls into the exploded orifice that you have created with your violence... :angry:
The problem seems to be associated with slightly older smackpacks that sometimes swell just a bit even while stored in the refrigerator. Sometimes its very hard to judge but if its only slightly puffed it seems there is a huge risk of bursting the pack seal while attempting to only burst the nutrient pack. So what I have ended up doing is "gently" trying to smack the pack, only to find later when it comes to pitching that I have failed to break the nutrient pack at all.
No of course what you guys will say is make a starter and dont bother to smack, but the reason I buy wyeast is to avoid having to make a starter and to trust the claim of the manufacturer "direct pitch"... Secondly, I usualy smack the pack the day before brewing or on the day first thing. Therefore is something goes wrong I dont have the luxury of time to make a starter.
I am aware the yeast are dormant and therefore alive and therefore are metabolising "slowly" but I am wondering if my supplier may be warming these things up to a point they have awaken somehow, in any case frustrating. Think I am going to try the Whitelabs pitchable vials.
Rant over.