Crossmyloof Brewery Yeasts

[deadwolfbones]

Anyone used these? Just picked up two packets of five different strains (Belgian, Kolsch, Cali Common, Real Ale, and Saison) and plan to try them out over the coming months. If they perform well, the price is certainly right. Got these 10 for about $14 shipped from Glasgow, or $1.40 for each 10g packet.

Really funny guys, too. Very personable and great service.

 

[Northern_Brewer]

Yep, there's quite a few people using them but I've not done so myself. Based on the pack size and range I've always assumed that both CML and Bulldog are white label versions of Mangrove Jack, so I'd search for comments for the equivalent MJ version of each.

 

[deadwolfbones]

Could definitely be repackaged, but I find it interesting that their page specifically calls out certain yeasts as having "similar qualities": https://www.crossmyloofbrew.co.uk/yeast-specs

Mangrove Jack's gets name checked, but also Lallemand, Safale, and Colonia F.

 

[jcav]

I bought some Northdown hops from their website on e-bay awhile ago for my London Pride clone, as I could not get those hops anywhere when I tried to source them in the U.S.. They are very funny, and very helpful. Price was right and shipping was cheap. I would buy from them again as they supply other breweries and have a lot of supply in stock. I have not used their yeast though......

John

 

[Northern_Brewer]

Mangrove Jack's gets name checked, but also Lallemand, Safale, and Colonia F.

Well, their "Californian" is "similar to MJ’s M54 / WLP810 San Francisco Lager / WLP001". Now WLP001 is a) not a lager yeast and b) not a dry yeast, so they're obviously talking about rough equivalences in brewing rather than genetic identity in those descriptions. And then the Pale Ale is described as equivalent to US-05.

However, I think it's new that CML are doing a kolsch yeast, which MJ doesn't do - perhaps Colonia F gets packed in the same factory?

Actually looking at that range, it looks like they've changed it quite a bit, they may have started off just repacking MJ but now have got the volume to mix things up a bit?

 

[mediant]

However, I think it's new that CML are doing a kolsch yeast, which MJ doesn't do - perhaps Colonia F gets packed in the same factory?

Actually looking at that range, it looks like they've changed it quite a bit, they may have started off just repacking MJ but now have got the volume to mix things up a bit?

It's a well established fact that both MJ and Bulldog yeast are manufactured by SPL (http://spl-int.com), whose OEM catalogue only included the following yeast: Bavaria Wheat | Belgian Ale | Bohemia Lager | British Ale | Burton Union | Newcastle Dark Ale | Universal Beer | US West Coast.
All these match both "old" MJ catalogue and CML inventory, including descriptions word for word, which is most likely the wording SPL provides for its products.

The point is, most likely both CML Cali and Kolsch (as well as Bulldog B23 Steam and B44 Kolsch respectively) is the same MJ M10 Workhorse yeast under different label.

 

[deadwolfbones]

It's a well established fact that both MJ and Bulldog yeast are manufactured by SPL (http://spl-int.com), whose OEM catalogue only included the following yeast: Bavaria Wheat | Belgian Ale | Bohemia Lager | British Ale | Burton Union | Newcastle Dark Ale | Universal Beer | US West Coast.
All these match both "old" MJ catalogue and CML inventory, including descriptions word for word, which is most likely the wording SPL provides for its products.

The point is, most likely both CML Cali and Kolsch (as well as Bulldog B23 Steam and B44 Kolsch respectively) is the same MJ M10 Workhorse yeast under different label.

Very interesting, but as NB noted, they now have several yeasts that aren't among those, including a French Saison. Wonder where they're getting 'em.

 

[bleme]

Those are some awesome deals on yeast. I am stocked up right now but I added them to my bookmarks. Let us know how they perform.

 

[Northern_Brewer]

Very interesting, but as NB noted, they now have several yeasts that aren't among those, including a French Saison. Wonder where they're getting 'em.

Well, one might assume that CML's :
"French Saison's a top fermenting ale yeast with a distinctive dry, peppery and citrus farmhouse ale vibe. Designed to work with maltose and simple sugars it has high attenuation and can reach abv's of up to 11%. It'll finish off nice and clear too with good flocculation & ferments quite nicely between 17-28c. A more estery brew can be achieves at the higher end of fermentation temperatures. "

is not unrelated to Mangrove Jack M29
"French Saison yeast is an exceptional, highly attenuative top-fermenting ale yeast, creating distinctive beers with spicy, fruity and peppery notes. Ideal for fermentation of farmhouse style beer."

Thanks for that @mediant, I'd not seen those archived links although I'm not sure it quite makes sense for them to be packaging the same yeast under different names. One can imagine that SPl may have extended their range since then.

 

[mediant]

I'm not sure it quite makes sense for them to be packaging the same yeast under different names. One can imagine that SPl may have extended their range since then.

I wish it to be true, but then here's one example:
In the old catalogue we have:

• M20 Bavarian Wheat Yeast, described as "A classic top-fermenting yeast suited for brewing a range of German Weizens as well as Belgian Witbier",

In the new one, separately, sharing exactly same characteristics (Att 70-75%, Floc 2, Comp 2):

• M20 Bavarian Wheat "Suitable for Hefeweizen, Kristal M20 Weizen, Dunkel Weizen and more." (doesn't mention Wit anymore)
• M21 Belgian Wit

My personal experience with CML Weizen is similar - it produces very Wit-like character when fermented with suppressed esters.

It might be that marketing for the homebrewing crowd has its peculiar ways, so that specialized strains sell much better, as many would regard "universal" yeast as lower quality. Who knows...

 

[mediant]

CML Belgian Yeast and Saison is most likely same yeast too, same as MJ M27 Belgian Ale from the old catalogue, that became M29 French Saison, as well as (presumably) M41 Belgian Ale and M31 Belgian Tripel.

 

[Smellyglove]

Where do you guys find the yeasts on SPL's site? All I can find is turbo yeast and distillers yeast?

 

[deadwolfbones]

Where do you guys find the yeasts on SPL's site? All I can find is turbo yeast and distillers yeast?

All of the links are web archive links because the pages don't exist anymore.

 

[mediant]

Where do you guys find the yeasts on SPL's site? All I can find is turbo yeast and distillers yeast?

I believe it will not be there anymore, as the news arrived that ‘SPL International’ will remain, but as the brand for the bulk supply of ingredients to the commercial alcoholic drinks producers, under the company name Bevie. The homebrew aspect of the business will be handled through the consumer brands or private label/customer branded products.
The archive has all there ever was, not that much anyway.

 

[Northern_Brewer]

It might be that marketing for the homebrewing crowd has its peculiar ways, so that specialized strains sell much better, as many would regard "universal" yeast as lower quality. Who knows...

I understand that argument, I'm just not convinced that the effect is strong enough to justify the extra costs of two packs, particularly for inventory management.

Given that MJ has a reputation for drifting quite quickly when repitched, it seems that they're probably using blends, so I wonder if the different flavours have some strains in common, but also different "supporting" yeast in the blend. So some of the headline numbers would be the same, but it would still necessitate the complexity of having multiple SKUs.

Sort of thing that would be quite easy to do with some basic genetic testing, unfortunately I've got rather a long list of those to do... Would make for a nice little undergraduate project though....

 

[Miraculix]

I understand that argument, I'm just not convinced that the effect is strong enough to justify the extra costs of two packs, particularly for inventory management.

Given that MJ has a reputation for drifting quite quickly when repitched, it seems that they're probably using blends, so I wonder if the different flavours have some strains in common, but also different "supporting" yeast in the blend. So some of the headline numbers would be the same, but it would still necessitate the complexity of having multiple SKUs.

Sort of thing that would be quite easy to do with some basic genetic testing, unfortunately I've got rather a long list of those to do... Would make for a nice little undergraduate project though....

I really did study the wrong subject.

 

[jimmyjusa]

I've been really happy with the belgian yeast, used the real ale yeast in my "irish red" and it came out very nice. I've used the cali common yeast a few times and it's very clean. I used the saison in a cider handed out as gifts and people seemed to enjoy it. The kolsch yeast is one of the next ones im going to test out. I have yet to try the krystalweissen as well.

 

[deadwolfbones]

I co-pitched the Lille Saison and Belgian yeasts (1:2 ratio) into a Belgian pale ale I did recently and they took the 1.054 wort to 1.007 in 36 hours.

 

[jimmyjusa]

Sounds good, i got a strong ester and phenol profile with the Belgian fermenting at mid 70s. Saison is on my short list as well to try out. May try the session version of the Brooklyn sorachi saison.

 

[Miraculix]

I co-pitched the Lille Saison and Belgian yeasts (1:2 ratio) into a Belgian pale ale I did recently and they took the 1.054 wort to 1.007 in 36 hours.

99% prevent sure that this is belle saison rebranded.

I personally didn't like the Belgian first, had quite a tart character which I didn't expect, but after some aging this vanished and a nice beer remained.

Maybe this is lallemand abbey rebranded?

 

[deadwolfbones]

99% prevent sure that this is belle saison rebranded.

I personally didn't like the Belgian first, had quite a tart character which I didn't expect, but after some aging this vanished and a nice beer remained.

Maybe this is lallemand abbey rebranded?

Would be cool if so, since it's about $1.25 per packet.

 

[jimmyjusa]

I'd say the profile and fermentation temps are more in line with safale be-134, but i don't have any direct experience with it to compare

 

[Miraculix]

I'd say the profile and fermentation temps are more in line with safale be-134, but i don't have any direct experience with it to compare

Could be, but AFAIK, fermentis does not sell to resellers. Lallemand does. But they could obviously have just bought a big pack and just split it without asking for permission.

 

[jimmyjusa]

Or perhaps mangrove jacks could be comparible as well

 

[Miraculix]

Or perhaps mangrove jacks could be comparible as well

According to my knowledge, which is based on stuff I read here and in other forums, they mostly buy their yeast somewhere else as well...

 

[jimmyjusa]

I guess in the end, as long as the yeast is consistent then it's not really an issue. I'm super pleased with the quality of crossmyloof yeast and at just over a buck a pack it's an insane deal. I've got some of their premium yeast coming as well.

 

[Miraculix]

Don't get me wrong, I didn't mean that in a negative way, i was also pleased with the results and I think it is pretty nice to be able to buy big name brands for cheap. Maltmiller in the UK is doing similar things with Nottingham and London ale and I bought those multiple times.

 

[Northern_Brewer]

There's only a few actual manufacturers of dry yeast, so the likes of Mangrove Jack seem to repack a lot of Lallemand strains (but also seem to be a couple from other producers, possibly Mauri). I've seen it suggested that Crossmyloof used to pretty much do the same as MJ, but may now be using a German supplier - their range no longer seems to match MJ in the way that it used to.

 

[Miraculix]

I wonder what Gozdawa is selling.