Man, am I PO'd! I just wrote you this long dissertation of how you screwed yourself while thinking you were saving $$$ - then I got timed out!
The short of it is...if you want to brew a true to style HW, or any other brew for that matter, you just HAVE TO use the appropriate yeast or you will not get the flavor you are aiming for.
Forget about the cost.
For one $5.50 vial of yeast you can use it at least 12 times!
Here's what you do: Make a starter. Split it in half. Brew a batch. Wash your yeast and divide it into 5 separate containers.
Remember, that's only half and it's only the 1st generation.
Try washing and dividing that generation and your cost is down to $0.23.
Imagine the big companies who re-use their yeast for 6 months and many generations.
That comes to just $0.46 per batch for 60 gallons of HW.
If you don't want to make that much you can always exchange some with other brewers in your neighborhood!
I'm quitting before I get timed out again...Happy Brewing!
ELP: I hear what you're saying about getting light colored beers from extract. I'm on the road at the moment, but when I get home I'd like to send you a few pics of my extract beers if that's OK with you. I'm looking for your opinion/critique. Thanks. Later.
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