Right or wrong type of yeast?

[nmcjudo]

I went to the store to purchase a vial of Irish Ale yeast for a stout recipe but it was out of stock. I instead picked up a vial of English Ale yeast. Will this work or was it a bad choice?

Also, is there really a right or wrong choice? Will any style of yeast work when brewing beer?

 

[birvine]

When I come to just such a question I experiment to see what would happen with this batch and that ingredient. Within reason, of course.

/B

 

[ACbrewer]

Yeast generates about 500 different flavors all mixing in different proportion in the beer, so yes, there can be a 'wrong kind of yeast' ifyou are aiming to make a clean tasting american lager and get a begian or german wheat style yeast. However if it tastes good when you are done, and there is no competion that this is going to, then I don't see a problem.

As to English Ale and Irish Ale... I'm not sure that there is much of a difference, but I don't know. Take a look at the manufactures description of the 2 online.

 

[KevinW]

Yeast generates about 500 different flavors all mixing in different proportion in the beer, so yes, there can be a 'wrong kind of yeast' ifyou are aiming to make a clean tasting american lager and get a begian or german wheat style yeast. However if it tastes good when you are done, and there is no competion that this is going to, then I don't see a problem.

As to English Ale and Irish Ale... I'm not sure that there is much of a difference, but I don't know. Take a look at the manufactures description of the 2 online.

I agree pretty much. Each yeast style has it's own unique charactersitics hence the different style however many yeasts have similar qualities that your particular beer has so they can be interchanged. Attenuation, temperature range, "clean" tasting or fruity at certain temps like in a belgian. Just a few things to consider but if you are making a stout and your ferment temps are kept in the mid 60's you should be fine!

Just my opinion though so experiment and you just may be surprised!!

Good luck

 

[nmcjudo]

Thank you for the replies and input. After a Google search I found that that the English yeast can be used for a English style stout. The fermentation temp should be between 65-68 F.

This will be my fifth all grain batch. I have been picky about gravity and other unexpected outcomes before. Even gone so far as dumping a batch. This time I will just let the magic work and see what turns out.