WL yeast vials

[woody]

Ok I'm about to make a starter with a vial of 0029 white labs yeast and this is not my first starter but it is the first time using WL vials. My question is this, the yeast is so packed into the bottom of the vial it does not want to mix or even start to mix up when I shake it. all I can think is that it will loosen up when it warms up some but I found this unexpected. is this normal for WL or what.

[Dawg LB Steve]

I have only used it once, it was not a good experience. LHBS told me to take it out to room temp morning I was going to brew, shook it to mix into a slurry. Luckily I opened it over the top of the LBK, it pressurized and sprayed mostly into the LBK, felt like it under pitched and added some fromunda too, it was a 4 gallon batch.

[swenocha]

Shake the snot out of it to loosen it up, then barely crack open the vial and close (imagine barely opening a shook up Coke bottle). Let set for a min or two, and then repeat until you don't feel like it's going to spew. Then proceed as per normal. If you can't get it to dislodge from the bottom of the vial, pour half of the vial in, then shake with only half of the volume and it should loosen up.

[woody]

well this has been a learning experience, It is now alright. all I had to do is release pressure and shake and repeat. thanks all. thought I had a bad vial.

[braukasper]

I set the vial on the cap. The yeast will fall down as it warms. Shake crack the cap slightly to relief the pressure

[Chuck N]

You have to let it come up to room temp before you use it. And then, like has been said, shake it well and open it slowly and carefully and over the cooled wort.