Belgain ale yeast for a belgian witbier?

[newguy07]

Hey guys I went to my LHBS today and I plan to brew my second all grain batch tomorrow morning. I plan to brew a belgian wit but my LHBS was out of the belgian wit yeast WPL 400. I spoke with the salesman there and he said this using the belgian ale yeast would get me closest to the same flavor. I'm just wondering what some of your thoughts are on this and if you have any ideas to help make this beer taste as close to a belgian wit as possible. Thanks in advance for any input! my recipe involves 5lb belgian pilsner, 3lb white wheat, 2.5lb flaked wheat, 1oz cascade hops broken into two additions, .5oz bitter orange, .5 oz coriander.

Thanks again!

 

[ReverseApacheMaster]

I believe witbier yeasts and abbey yeasts are very similar, much more than witbier and weizen yeasts. You should be fine using an abbey or trappist strain as long as you ferment it in the low to mid 60s.

 

[GuldTuborg]

I've heard of some brewers having success with the Achouffe strain. I haven't tried it myself, though, but as stated above, there is a lot of similarity in most of these strains.

 

[newguy07]

the one i bought is called belgian ale yeast. I believe it is WL 550. I'll try it out and keep you guys posted on how it turns out. Thanks for the input though!

 

[GuldTuborg]

I believe it is WL 550.

That would be the Achoufe strain. Score 1 for your LHBS!:rockin:

 

[Houblon]

WLP 550 isn't what I think of in a wit - its too clean.

"Majorvices" uses wlp500 is his and if he likes it than I have to agree with his pick as its his money on the line >http://yellowhammerbrewery.com/

http://www.homebrewersassociation.org/forum/index.php?topic=5598.msg66811#msg66811

 

[OLDBREW]

wyeast 3944 is the shizah for great witbeers