Brocster
Well-Known Member
I also love the WLP029 and I want to try and make an IPA with soon. I was going to use it in my Nugget Nectar clone but I have a 2000ml of washed PacMan I am throwing at it.
Yep, this is a great yeast, especially if you want a crisp profile to your beers. I use this yeast quite often, and here are my thoughts on how to maximize the WLP029 impact.
First, use a nice starter at full krausen. This is not so much about the benefits of a starter, which is very important, but more about the benefits of pitching WLP029 when the starter is at full krausen. I have notice significantly better results when pitching WLP029 this way than with a starter slurry.
Second, stay with the White Labs recommended fermentation temp and do not be tempted to ferment at a lower (sub 58 ambient air) temp. If you can get the wort to ferment at 64 - 68 (temp of the wort), this will allow for the best yeast performance.
Third, do not even THINK of pulling the beer off the yeast until a minimum of 16 days have passed. This yeast is one of those that does work best with a little more time than other ale yeasts. In fact, I just pulled a Kolsch off of a trub after 6 weeks in the primary. The beer was outstanding and the yeast cake so compact that I barely had any sediment pull through the racking cane and tube into the secondary. Clear as a bell.
Fourth, this yeast benefits from secondary conditioning. Even if it is just a week, it does make a difference. WLP029 can have some yeast bite if not careful, so it is good to let the little yeasties really clean up. Secondary conditioning works very well in the 50's for a temp.
Overall, let this yeast work 2 times as long as you would a 'typical' ale yeast you you will be rewarded. Keep grains simple, even for stouts, and if you want to have a highly attenuated beer, mash in the lower end of the conversion range, say 148, and this yeast will take the FG a good ways down.
Recent 1.053 Kolsch SG's have finished out at 1.007 - a high 80's attenuation rate.
Here is a link to a recent Kolsch recipe I had success with.
https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f62/cricket-mountain-kolsch-180852/
Cheers!