But I could have sworn when I made my starters before, they were all creamy yellow. I made this 26 hours ago and it still looks like not much is going on. I used a vial of WLP001 which expired last month but I figured "it's only 1 month past it's prime and I'm making a starter - no problem".
I might have to pick up a new vial before brewday me thinks.
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Have you tasted the starter? It doesn't look like a successful starter to me either.
In that case I'd just buy more. There may have been only a tiny bit of live yeast left in the vial (if any) and it might eventually ferment out the starter but I would guess that you'd end up with some pretty unhealthy yeast.
Better yet, just get some US-05. I doubt you'd go back to WLP001.
I just recently had the same thing, but this vial was a year past its' date. I seem to remember using WL vials up to a year past their date and still have them go like they should.
Just to reiterate the importance of a starter - I brewed a pale today and pitched 2 vials at noon at 66d (used 001) and I STILL have 0 activity. Checking my notes from previous brews using 001 and a 2L starter, I've never had lag times longer than 6 hours.
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