Type of yeast

SSD · 01-31-2012, 10:41 PM

I'm new to mead making and making some tomorrow. The recipe calls for lalvin d 47 yeast. My local brew store does not carry lalvin. They have small selection of mead yeast. They have wyeast sweet mead and wyeast dry mead. Which one do I use?????

**shanecb** · 01-31-2012, 10:50 PM

The D47 is kind of right in the middle of both as far as attenuation goes. I guess the question is really just do you want a drier mead or a sweeter mead? Either one will work fine.

paraordnance · 02-01-2012, 12:22 AM

Get a dry mead wyeast. You can always backsweeten later. I love d47, makes nice melomels.

tweake · 02-01-2012, 04:01 AM

i would keep clear of all of the above. wyeast mead yeast keeps poping up as a hard yeast to use. D47 is not newbie friendly either.

if you can tell us what wine yeasts they stock i'm sure someone can suggest something.

liquidavalon · 02-01-2012, 04:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tweake

wyeast mead yeast keeps poping up as a hard yeast to use.

I have never used the wyeast mead yeast, but wanted to try it. Just wondering what issues people were having with it...

tweake · 02-01-2012, 05:18 AM

have a read through....everything from not starting, not finishing, stuck ferments etc.
no idea if its temp/nutrient related or if there is any decent info on what it needs. lack of info is often a big problem with most brands.
i do not know the difference between the two yeasts, but considering there is a LOT of yeast that can be used, why bother with something thats iffy.

liquidavalon · 02-01-2012, 12:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tweake

but considering there is a LOT of yeast that can be used, why bother with something thats iffy.

...and not to mention expensive! Wyeast Sweet Meas yeast is $6 to $7...Lalvin D47, maybe $1 to $2 ( or cheaper! )

**huesmann** · 02-01-2012, 12:59 PM

What's the deal with the Dry vs. Sweet mead yeast, anyway? Isn't dry vs. sweet all about the amount of residual sugar after the ferment is done, and isn't that basically a function of the alcohol tolerance of your yeast vs. the amount of sugar in your must?

SSD · 02-01-2012, 01:27 PM

So I ended up using wyeast dry mead yeast. Its been about 15 hours since I pitched I it. Is mead yeast supposed to go off like beer yeast. After reading one of the above posts, I'm concerned my yeast is not starting. If that is the case, what can I do.

ExoticMeadMaker · 02-01-2012, 01:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SSD

My local brew store does not carry lalvin.

always the internet vendors, most are local homebrew shops that have gotten into the online game.