Liquid Yeast Shipping Process

For the safety of yeast

Welcome to Double Dank's 2nd policy. The first is a high level trade secret. First of all, this is a new store and we're fine tuning how to approach this, so this is evolving. Input is appreciated!

Goals:

Deliver liquid yeast with viability to directly pitch as marketed
Be flexible with delivery options and pricing
Keep an evidence-based approach in determining best shipping practices

This process exists to ensure liquid yeast is viable upon delivery while being reasonable with baseline delivery options, and to protect the manufacturer, Double Dank, customers, and especially the yeast.

Yeast is shipped from the manufacturer to Double Dank in insulated boxes with ice packs on 2nd day airmail, regardless of the weather. The yeast is immediately refrigerated upon delivery and kept refrigerated until it is shipped to customers.

While liquid yeast is usually hardier than we give it credit, it can and will die in prolonged hot conditions. The following process should mitigate most of these issues and show why we do it this way.

How we handle shipping liquid yeast

Weather related and shipping only.

Warm Mode

This only applies when the weather is warm in the Denver area. You know, if it can reasonably be expected the yeast might die on a truck or cook on a sunny doorstep. When forecasted highs are 70 or higher.

Cold Mode

When the weather is cold in the Denver area, fast options are still available, but yeast can ride along on the cheap flat rate default delivery options. When forecasted highs are less than 70.

Delivery Options

Pickup options work best, save money and solve this whole conundrum, but if you don't live around Denver...
Liquid ships with minimum USPS Priority Mail service, usually 1-2 days regionally and up to 3 with further distances.
There are overnight and 2-day options.
This ships separately from the main order, because fast shipping rates are more sensitive to distance and package size and weight. Most other products in the store are assigned flat rate shipping based on your address' proximity to Dakota Ridge, CO.

Delivery Timing

Warm Mode: Liquid yeast ships M-W (or M-Th for CO/regional orders) to reduce risk of weekend holds. Rest of order ships on flat rates, usually M-F.
Cold Mode: Whole order including liquid yeast ships together ASAP, usually M-F.

Cooling & Insulating Options

Not required to buy an insulated mailer with ice packs. Liquid yeast is sensitive to both temperature and time at that temperature.
Insulated mailer with ice packs available to buy because these costs add up quickly. The yeast will probably still arrive warm even on overnight, but it won't be warm for long.

Mitigation Options

Buy dry yeast.
In the likely event liquid yeast is delivered warm AND you're concerned about its viability, its reported that even the "deadest" yeast can usually be revived, cheaply. Yeast starters are intended to do just this. You can easily make a starter with affordable amounts of Startup and DME.

What if this policy does not apply to me?

Of course, Mr. Senator, what was I thinking?? As just stated, "even the 'deadest' yeast can usually be revived." And sometimes it makes sense especially for local orders that they will be delivered quickly anyway. Reach out and everything will be delivered together.