Dry yeast vs. wet yeast?

[BarryNL]

It seems the more experienced brewers always seem to use wet yeast - either in test tubes or smack packs, but most kits come with dried yeast.

Are there advantages to using one or the other?

 

[Orfy]

Yes, lots and also lots of threads with loads of info and debated many times.
Search is good.


Dry: easy, fast, good.
Liquid: Many variates.

 

[CBBaron]

Kits come with dry yeast because it is cheaper and doesn't have to be refrigerated. This allows the kit manufacturer to make up the kit and sit it on a shelf in the store or stock room until it is purchased.
My next brew will be my first experience with liquid yeast so I can't comment of quality differences. However I can say dry yeast is very easy to use and quickly starts fermenting.
You can always buy the liquid yeast separate from the kit and just save the dry for a backup. Dry yeast will keep in a fridge for over a year.
Craig

 

[sirsloop]

Yeast selection is as important as any other ingredient selection in the brew! Dry yeast has limited uses when it comes to some types of beers. Both my belgian wit and my wheat beers would not be the same without specific yeast strains. Having said that, I use Nottinghams dry yeast in my coffee and chocolate stouts, and keep leftover packs in the fridge in case one of my saved strains of liquid goes dud and i'm in a pinch.

 

[EdWort]

Nottingham rocks in my Haus Pale Ale. Cheap too! I use liquid yeasts for my Hefe, Kolsch, and California Common, but I take those $6.49 vials and propagate them into 4 batches at least. It keeps the cost down.

 

[TheJadedDog]

I pretty much only use liquid yeast if I am making a special brew that needs a specific strain (like a Dead Guy clone). Other than that I use Nottinghams or Safale 04 for simplicity sake.

 

[SteveM]

Here is a recent deconstruction of the whole subject. Most people seem to be done with getting excited over the subject:

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/showthread.php?t=22904