Favorite yeast

[ojaason]

I brew a lot of west coast ipa and pale ales. I typically use chico yeast, but getting bored. What's everyone's favorite west coast ipa yeast?

 

[cswis86]

My go to is Wyeast 1272 but I also like 1332 on occasion.

 

[shoreman]

1217 is one of my favorite yeasts I've used in 20 years of homebrewing, it just happens to be a Private collection release this Spring

https://wyeastlab.com/private-collection

 

[Dgallo]

IMHO, Imperial A24 is the best ester producing beer for hoppy styles. Complements the hops perfectly with peach and citrus notes but does not overpower the hops themselves. I under pitch and drive the fermentation into the mid 70s (74-76) and it works great. Not a crazy high attenuator so mashing lower or some sugar will def help if your looking for a drier west coast ipa

 

[Zooksta]

IMHO, Imperial A24 is the best ester producing beer for hoppy styles. Complements the hops perfectly with peach and citrus notes but does not overpower the hops themselves. I under pitch and drive the fermentation into the mid 70s (74-76) and it works great. Not a crazy high attenuator so mashing lower or some sugar will def help if your looking for a drier west coast ipa

I like A24 as well, used it for my last IPA and it turned out great, except I didn't under pitch and fermented @ 68F.

 

[ojaason]

1217 is one of my favorite yeasts I've used in 20 years of homebrewing, it just happens to be a Private collection release this Spring

https://wyeastlab.com/private-collection

I'll keep an eye out for this one

 

[ojaason]

I've used a24 once before. It made for a great combination with fruity hops. I was going to try pacman or san Diego super yeast. Does anyone have experience with these? My last ipa was fermented with us05 and has citrusy/ fruity esters that are very distracting to me.

 

[Dgallo]

I've used a24 once before. It made for a great combination with fruity hops. I was going to try pacman or san Diego super yeast. Does anyone have experience with these? My last ipa was fermented with us05 and has citrusy/ fruity esters that are very distracting to me.

US05 is a Chico strain and ferments really clean for me. San Diego has a really clean fermentation too in my experience, so it really just depends if you want esters or if you don’t

 

[jdauria]

Imperial L17 Harvest. Brew a lot of lagers and it's my go to for most of them.

 

[Ralphie0523]

Harvest and it’s equivalents definitely are a go to for a lot of my brewing. More IPA focused I have had great success with the Pacific Ale V, Dry English Ale, and Independence strains.

 

[jwa120]

I've used a24 once before. It made for a great combination with fruity hops. I was going to try pacman or san Diego super yeast. Does anyone have experience with these? My last ipa was fermented with us05 and has citrusy/ fruity esters that are very distracting to me.

I like San Diego, ferments fast and clean, good attenuation. Whitelabs suggests a limited fermentation temp range, I have always stayed in the in range and had good results.

 

[booth74]

I always pitch 2 packs of s05 per 5 gallons and still throw oxygen pre pitch. I never get peach flavors or any esters.

 

[Paul_Aris]

Ib

US05 is a Chico strain and ferments really clean for me. San Diego has a really clean fermentation too in my experience, so it really just depends if you want esters or if you don’t

Used to always buy liquid yeast and many times do starters my last 12 brews or so have all been IPA's with Fermentos S05 right out of the dry pack and I would say my beers are just as good or probably even better than they were before.

 

[Andre3000]

Imperial L17 Harvest. Brew a lot of lagers and it's my go to for most of them.

What do you like about this one and how does it compare to W34/70? I'm trying to settle on a one-and-done lager yeast and I'm finding it very hard to get away from W34/70, and I'm not a dry yeast guy. It ferments fast, tastes clean, attenuates well, and drops clear quick. I'd previously really enjoyed WY2308, which shared all the same qualities but I found it left the beers a bit too sweet. Great yeast otherwise.

 

[jdauria]

What do you like about this one and how does it compare to W34/70? I'm trying to settle on a one-and-done lager yeast and I'm finding it very hard to get away from W34/70, and I'm not a dry yeast guy. It ferments fast, tastes clean, attenuates well, and drops clear quick. I'd previously really enjoyed WY2308, which shared all the same qualities but I found it left the beers a bit too sweet. Great yeast otherwise.

Don't get me wrong, 34/70 is a great yeast. Imperial Global is the same strain as 34/70. I use liquid yeast due to building yeast starters to get proper pitch counts etc, my local shop never has Global, so I grab Harvest when they do. First thing I like is that the compared to other liquid yeasts, it's 200 million cells per package, so don't need to make starters as big as when using White Labs or Wyeast. Harvest is also very clean, drops clears quickly, is a low sulfur producer. Can be used for any lager style, and can can be used for doing lagers in the 60's is you don't have fermentation temp control.

Actually it's a lot like 34/70, the only real main difference is 34/70 is the Weihenstephan brewery strain and Harvest is Augustiner's....so they both used by two great German breweries for a long time. You probably already know this, but Wyeast 2124 Bohemian Lager and White Labs 830 German Lager are both the same strain as 34/70 and I have used both of those liquid yeasts when Harvest was not available with great success.

Just brewed a Helles Export (Dortmunder) this weekend with Harvest and in less than 12 hours already had a krausen going.

 

[Andre3000]

Actually it's a lot like 34/70, the only real main difference is 34/70 is the Weihenstephan brewery strain and Harvest is Augustiner's....so they both used by two great German breweries for a long time. You probably already know this, but Wyeast 2124 Bohemian Lager and White Labs 830 German Lager are both the same strain as 34/70 and I have used both of those liquid yeasts when Harvest was not available with great success.

Just brewed a Helles Export (Dortmunder) this weekend with Harvest and in less than 12 hours already had a krausen going.

Interesting. Maybe I'll give it a shot! How's the attenuation? I see The figures vary between Imperial (70-74), Whitelabs (68-72) and Wyeast (72-74). I do like my lagers crisp and like I mentioned 2308 (70-74) was on the maltier side for me. Though I know you can't really hand your hat on published attenuation numbers.

 

[jdauria]

Interesting. Maybe I'll give it a shot! How's the attenuation? I see The figures vary between Imperial (70-74), Whitelabs (68-72) and Wyeast (72-74). I do like my lagers crisp and like I mentioned 2308 (70-74) was on the maltier side for me. Though I know you can't really hand your hat on published attenuation numbers.

I've averaged around 76-77 attenuation. Had a few as low as 72% and a couple in low 80's.

 

[brewbama]

I like BRY-97 for ~75% (or more) of my beers. It’s clean so there’s not much expression which allows the hop and malt character to shine. Just like I like it. I guess you’d say it’s become my house strain though I don’t harvest — I use one trip yeast for most every brew. I use it for both Ales and “Lagers”.

 

[Dgallo]

I like BRY-97 for ~75% (or more) of my beers. It’s clean so there’s not much expression which allows the hop and malt character to shine. Just like I like it. I guess you’d say it’s become my house strain though I don’t harvest — I use one trip yeast for most every brew. I use it for both Ales and “Lagers”.

Every time I use BRY 97 my beers come out with a greater perceived bitterness and I can’t figure out why. That’s literally the only difference so I just don’t know. Have you experienced that by any chance,

 

[Andre3000]

I've averaged around 76-77 attenuation. Had a few as low as 72% and a couple in low 80's.

Oh wow that is excellent. I'll try it for my next lager brew spree!

 

[wepeeler]

Don't get me wrong, 34/70 is a great yeast. Imperial Global is the same strain as 34/70. I use liquid yeast due to building yeast starters to get proper pitch counts etc, my local shop never has Global, so I grab Harvest when they do. First thing I like is that the compared to other liquid yeasts, it's 200 million cells per package, so don't need to make starters as big as when using White Labs or Wyeast. Harvest is also very clean, drops clears quickly, is a low sulfur producer. Can be used for any lager style, and can can be used for doing lagers in the 60's is you don't have fermentation temp control.

Actually it's a lot like 34/70, the only real main difference is 34/70 is the Weihenstephan brewery strain and Harvest is Augustiner's....so they both used by two great German breweries for a long time. You probably already know this, but Wyeast 2124 Bohemian Lager and White Labs 830 German Lager are both the same strain as 34/70 and I have used both of those liquid yeasts when Harvest was not available with great success.

Just brewed a Helles Export (Dortmunder) this weekend with Harvest and in less than 12 hours already had a krausen going.

I'm currently using Harvest for the 1st time. Fermenting a Pilsner at 52. Have you used it up to 60 before? Any difference from fermenting in the low 50s? I've used 34/70 a few times, and even though everyone raves about it, it leaves my beer too sweet. I mash low (148F), do a D rest, but I still get residual sweetness even when it ferments down to 1.008. Weird...

 

[Ninoid]

My favorite yeast is Mangrove Jack M29. I have no control of the fermentation temperature, and that yeast gives a very good APA even at 30'C. Apart from primarily for Belgian styles, I also brew with him the great Stout and Porter.

 

[moreb33rplz]

Chico, WLP830 or 34/70, and Conan

 

[stickyfinger]

You might want to give the new Omega Kveik a try. The ad says it is very clean. It’s called Lutra.

 

[Franktalk]

S04 for British ales; S189 for lagers; and S05 for American ales. But...Lallemand has come out with some really interesting dry yeasts that I like, so not sure now, but maybe Lalbrew Verdant for British. Also, they now have a dry kolsch yeast which I like, never had that option in dry form, and Lalbrew wit, another new one. Needless to say, I'm a dry yeast guy. I will and do use liquid yeast, but I would love it if I could brew exclusively with dry yeast.

 

[Twinkeelfool]

For something different wlp029 is great all round but really let’s hops shine I’ve found while finishing crisp and dry. My house strain.

 

[jdauria]

I'm currently using Harvest for the 1st time. Fermenting a Pilsner at 52. Have you used it up to 60 before? Any difference from fermenting in the low 50s? I've used 34/70 a few times, and even though everyone raves about it, it leaves my beer too sweet. I mash low (148F), do a D rest, but I still get residual sweetness even when it ferments down to 1.008. Weird...

Sorry be off line for awhile....I used Harvest at 60 once. It was still fairly clean, though I prefer using it at cooler temps.

 

[wepeeler]

Sorry be off line for awhile....I used Harvest at 60 once. It was still fairly clean, though I prefer using it at cooler temps.

No worries. Fermented at 52, raised to 65 for d rest after about a week. Gonna cold crash soon. Fingers crossed.

 

[D.B.Moody]

Needless to say, I'm a dry yeast guy.

Are there reasons you don't use S33 or Nottingham?

 

[Franktalk]

Are there reasons you don't use S33 or Nottingham?

I'll use S33, but I don't like Nottingham. It is to attenuative and neutral for English styles.