Multiple yeast strains?

[NativeSun]

I was reading up on this beer and I noticed that it uses three strains of yeasts. I'm wondering how that works..

Are all 3 added at the same time?

How does it affect taste?

Does it take longer then usual because of the multiple strains?

 

[cpa4ny]

I think they had an article in Zymurgy few editions ago (May/June 2013?) on using multiple yeast strains - check it out.

 

[beergolf]

I have done a tripel several times using a couple of different yeasts. Here is what I found. First time I pitched 1214 and 3787 at the same time. I could taste both yeasts, but the 3787 was more pronounced. This makes sense because the 1214 is knows to be a slow starter. So the next time I made this brew I did a bigger starter of the 1214 and just pitched the smack pack of the 3787. This gave me what I was looking for.

It is fun to experiment with different yeasts in a brew. As long as they have similar temperature requirements you are good.

 

[NativeSun]

I tried to look up the article from the magazine but was unsuccessful in finding the procedure for blending the yeast.

If you were a beginner with yeast..aka like me.. do you need to have the stir plates and all the other accessories in order to blend yeast or can you merely just poured two packets of yeast in the wort to pitch it?

 

[cpa4ny]

I personally don't pre-blend - I start off with a certain strain for taste (ex. WY3724, Belgian Saison - notorious for its "moodiness") and then finish off the ferment with another strain (ex. 3711, French Saison) for a quicker and more complete attenuation.

Whenever I use liquid yeast, I personally feel that the stirplate is almost a must. You get so much better yeast propagation for a fairly limited investment of about 100 bucks.

 

[NativeSun]

What does that do? lessen the time of the primary fermentation..allow for better flavors?? I know you'd be starting with more yeast cells but just unsure of what that does.

I've been delaying my research and purchase of the stir plate because of the lack of space

 

[cpa4ny]

Proper amount of pitched yeast makes a big difference in flavor profile of the beer as well as attenuation. Once I started considering "cold" side of brewing more seriously, it really made a significant positive impact on my beers (together with quick wort cooling with the plate chiller, oxygenating wort with pure O2 and proper fermentation temp control).

A stirplate is about the size of an average paperback, so it won't take up too much space

 

[beergolf]

I've been delaying my research and purchase of the stir plate because of the lack of space

A stir plate is not that big and is one of the best brewing investments you can make.

https://bellsbeer.com/store/products/StirStarter-%2d-Yeast-Starter-Stir-Plate.html

 

[Fat_Maul]

So first and foremost, I highly recommend you read the book "Yeast: The Practical Guide to Beer Fermentation" by Jamil Zainasheff and Chris White (White Labs) I cannot understate how often the fermentation process is trivialized by home brewers. Paraphrasing Jamil: An improperly fermented beer is always going to be a bad beer regardless of any other factor.

Multiple yeast strains are used for two main reasons, flavor and attenuation.

Yeasts have different flavor profiles due to the esters they produce given the specific conditions of the fermentation. Adding two different Belgian yeasts may add a complexity not possible to achieve with one strain alone.

They also attenuate differently. Say I want a big beer with a Belgian flavor profile but a very dry finish. I might start the fermentation with the Belgian yeast then add a second highly attenuating (but neutral tasting) yeast towards the end of primary fermentation to finish off the job.

This beer has three yeasts so maybe they were trying to achieve both goals.

PS - You can't just dump in a slant or yeast packet at the end of fermentation because the wort lacks oxygen at this phase. You would want to pitch yeast from a highly active starter to finish the fermentation. I am not sure if a smacked Wyeast pouch counts as an active starter though.