Saison yeast viability

[OneShot1]

My smack pack of Wyeast 3711 French Saison is dated Jan 23, 2013 and the yeast pitching calculator on Mr Malty says that I need 2 packs at a minimum to make a starter. I have slid the bar and I have used the calculator for several years. My setup is a stir plate.

Should I just make an enormous starter? If so, how big? Buy the second pack? Thanks in advance.

 

[sweetcell]

how big a batch are you making (total volume), and what's the OG?

 

[OneShot1]

Sorry. 5.5 gallons with 1.060 OG.

 

[sweetcell]

not sure what is going on here, but http://yeastcalc.com/ says that you'll be fine with a 2 liter starter of that 1/23 yeast, on a stir plate. weird. dunno who to believe.

 

[OneShot1]

Thanks for responding. The size tops out at 2 liters on yeastcalc. I tried some other sites and they reinforced Jamil's calculations on Mr. Malty. In the end my wife just went to the HBS and grabbed another smack pack. I'm going to make up for the extra cost by pitching my Bourbon Barrel Stout on to an existing yeast cake for a Mild that I have going right now. Thanks again.