Weihenstephaner Hefe Yeast? 3068?

Lando · 07-26-2009, 11:56 AM

Is the yeast used in Weihenstephaner Hefe the same stuff as Wyeast 3068?
I love the Weihenstephaner and am working on a hefe today. Would love it if this was the same stuff.

Chello · 07-26-2009, 12:05 PM

Yup. Or atleast that is how it is advertised.

**EdWort** · 07-26-2009, 12:30 PM

No, it is a lager yeast. Germans filter their Hefeweizens and then add more fresh wort and lager yeast before bottling. This is called bottle conditioning and the bottles sit in a temperature controlled warehouse for about 3 weeks at 50 degrees.

bierdude · 07-26-2009, 12:45 PM

Edwort is partially correct. Traditional german Hefeweizen brewers do use a lager yeast to bottle condition their hefe's. But, Wyeast 3068 is a hefeweizen ale yeast. After fermentation is complete, a lager yeast (not 3068) is added at bottling. Ferment your hefe (with 3068) as close to 62 - 64 degrees as you can.

**EdWort** · 07-26-2009, 01:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bierdude

Edwort is partially correct.

He wants to know if the yeast in a bottle of Weihenstephan is the same as 3068 and it's not. You cannot harvest any German Hefe yeast from the bottle because it is not the same that they use to ferment.

Where am I partially incorrect?

Beerrific · 07-26-2009, 01:11 PM

I think the OP question can be interpreted two ways:
-"Is the yeast used in Weihenstephaner Hefe the same stuff as Wyeast 3068?" meaning the yeast used to ferment....yes (maybe, I don't have a source for this).

-"Is the yeast used in Weihenstephaner Hefe the same stuff as Wyeast 3068?" meaning the yeast in the bottle....no.

**EdWort** · 07-26-2009, 01:15 PM

Good point. I would say yes to the first and no to the second.

Kaiser · 07-26-2009, 02:02 PM

The 3068 is likely the strain W68 from the Weihenstephan yeast bank which is not the same as the brewery. But given that W68 is the most popular Weissbier strain in Germany it is very likely that the Weihenstephan brewery uses it for its Weissbiers. I like this yeast a lot.

The practice of bottle conditioning with lager yeast has largely been abandoned. There are many Weissbier brands that can be used to build up Weissbier starters and home brewers over there do that quite often.

Kai

Lando · 07-26-2009, 02:03 PM

Thanks for the info. I will go ahead and use the 3068 to ferment and see what that turns out like. I am a big fan of hefe so it will most likely be drinkable.

**EdWort** · 07-26-2009, 06:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kaiser

The practice of bottle conditioning with lager yeast has largely been abandoned. There are many Weissbier brands that can be used to build up Weissbier starters and home brewers over there do that quite often.

Which beers have abandoned that method? Erdinger still filters and uses a lager yeast today.