JebCkr
Well-Known Member
So, I just purchased an english pale ale kit. I opted for the $1.60 dry ale yeast instead of the $6.25 liquid yeast. Does the liquid yeat make it that much better? 4x better per say?
Just curious.
Just curious.
Liquid Yeast
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likwidbliss
Well-Known Member
I personally have not noticed that much of a difference.
Nope, there are many fine quality dry yeasts. What kind of yeast do you have? Brand and/or variety, I mean.
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JebCkr
Well-Known Member
Danstar Nottingham Ale Yeast
The simple answer, for me, is no... liquid is not 4x better at least for a single batch.
The complex answer is that liquid yeasts come in many, many more varieties than dry, and if you harvest the yeasts to use in multiple batches, then yes, you can get to the point where they are as economic as dry.
For something as simple as a pale ale, a dry yeast will be just as good, and more economic.
The complex answer is that liquid yeasts come in many, many more varieties than dry, and if you harvest the yeasts to use in multiple batches, then yes, you can get to the point where they are as economic as dry.
For something as simple as a pale ale, a dry yeast will be just as good, and more economic.
Depends how picky you are... if we are just talking beer in general, then I would say no... dry yeast ferments beer just as well as liquid yeast... but if you are looking for specific flavors in your beer, then absolutely yes... yeast can make all the difference...
Beer_Guy
Well-Known Member
Ok, lets say you buy all the ingredients for a specific brew and the total is $35 with the dry yeast. With the liquid it would have been $4.65 higher or $39.65. That works out to a 13% increase in cost. Not a 4x increase.
Anyway
Like some have said, for an English Pale Ale I would say the added cost is questionable since the hop varieties are what make it an English Pale Ale. Now for Wheat beer or something requiring certain yeast characteristics, then the yeast is VERY important.
Having said all that, I would probably have picked Thames Valley, Edinburgh, Burton Ale or some White Labs Dry English Ale liquid yeast. Something from the region anyway.
I like the added character some yeast add to a brew. It is like fine tuning it. For a few bucks more, to me, it is what makes this hobby worth it. Plus I enjoy saving the washed yeast. I have quite a collection. Now to save money, I just have to brew something that I can use a yeast I already have in the freezer. Maybe next time.
Anyway
Like some have said, for an English Pale Ale I would say the added cost is questionable since the hop varieties are what make it an English Pale Ale. Now for Wheat beer or something requiring certain yeast characteristics, then the yeast is VERY important.
Having said all that, I would probably have picked Thames Valley, Edinburgh, Burton Ale or some White Labs Dry English Ale liquid yeast. Something from the region anyway.
I like the added character some yeast add to a brew. It is like fine tuning it. For a few bucks more, to me, it is what makes this hobby worth it. Plus I enjoy saving the washed yeast. I have quite a collection. Now to save money, I just have to brew something that I can use a yeast I already have in the freezer. Maybe next time.
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JebCkr
Well-Known Member
Hmm, sounds like witchcraft to me. I'm not much for your book learnin...:rockin:
Beer_Guy
Well-Known Member
Good one...Simply said, $39.65 is NOT 4 time $35. I am of course talking total cost increase of the ingredients.
Wait... never mind. You ARE just messing with me right?
Beer_Guy
Well-Known Member
Since he did not say what the kit costs, then if the kit cost $1.39 then a $4.65 increase to $5.58 would be a 4 time increase.
[Sorry, I had to say it!]
[Sorry, I had to say it!
]Statistics are like bikinis. What they reveal is suggestive, but what they conceal is vital. ~Aaron Levenstein
Torture numbers, and they'll confess to anything. ~Gregg Easterbrook
Say you were standing with one foot in the oven and one foot in an ice bucket. According to the percentage people, you should be perfectly comfortable. ~Bobby Bragan, 1963
and finally....
98% of all statistics are made up. ~Author Unknown
Torture numbers, and they'll confess to anything. ~Gregg Easterbrook
Say you were standing with one foot in the oven and one foot in an ice bucket. According to the percentage people, you should be perfectly comfortable. ~Bobby Bragan, 1963
and finally....
98% of all statistics are made up. ~Author Unknown
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JebCkr
Well-Known Member
Simply said, $39.65 is NOT 4 time $35. I am of course talking total cost increase of the ingredients.
Wait... never mind. You ARE just messing with me right?
Hehe, yes I am. I'm a finance major...I deal with total cost until I'm blue some days.
I heard it was more like 56%. Hmm, sounds like a conundrum.
Indyking
Well-Known Member
For your simple ale recipe, the dry yeast will do the job, although bee careful and read the yeast reviews in the net or books, because some yeasts, particularly cheap ones, generate off-flavors to the beer. For some types of beers, especially lagers, a liquid yeast is a must!
And of course, reusing and washing yeast makes them much more economical. There are some good dry yeasts, but the flexibility liquid yeasts afford the homebrewer can't be calculated in terms of a few bucks.
