Versatile Yeast?

[edecambra]

Hey everyone, I am looking to get a strain that is versatile so I can wash and re-use for future, different recipes. I have been looking at wyeast's American Ale, it seems pretty versatile. Any suggestions. What Yeast strain can make the widest variety of recipe's. I am still pretty new to this and want to run through many recipes before I settle on the ones I like.

Throw in any suggestions you have. Thanks in advance guys.

 

[strat_thru_marshall]

White Labs WLP001 California Ale Yeast.

It can do lots and lots of ale styles, very clean and versatile.

 

[goose1873]

White Labs WLP001 California Ale Yeast.

It can do lots and lots of ale styles, very clean and versatile.

+1...It's my #1. But I make a lot of IPA/APAs. It does ferment clean and I actually use for more then I should...I like clean crisp finish w/ low esters.

 

[schmagy]

1056

 

[goose1873]

1056 = WLP001 = safale US-05

 

[Yooper]

I like many. From White Labs, 001 is a great all-purpose yeast. From Wyeast, I like 1056 and Denny's Favorite 50 (1450, I believe). For dry yeast, nottingham is good below 70 degrees, and S05 is good up to 72.

You could use those for all American styles, like APAs, IPAs, AAAs, stouts, barleywines, porters, etc, where you don't want much yeast character.

If you're making hefeweizens, or Belgians, or English styles, you'd want to get a yeast more suited to those styles.

 

[Crazytwoknobs]

Safale S-04 or S-05 is Similar, I forget which, they're both great.

 

[goose1873]

Safale S-04 or S-05 is Similar, I forget which, they're both great.

us-05 is the same...S-04 is English ale yeast or WLP002

 

[ReverseApacheMaster]

I make a lot of UK beer styles (porters, reds, browns, stouts, etc.) and have used 1338 (European Ale) with great success. It can handle 10%, so you can knock out pretty much anything with it. I've washed and used 5 generations with no problems or noticeable flavor changes.

 

[JuanMoore]

1056 = WLP001 = safale US-05

+1
I use the US-05 because it's twice the cells in a more convenient package for half the price. I used to think they had a slightly different character from each other, but nobody could tell the difference when I did my yeast comparison batch.

 

[JOHN51277]

I use the hell out of US-05. Hell, I will be using it in my KBS clone next weekend!

 

[CreekBrewery]

+1 on the S-05, a very nice yeast which is standard for my cream ales
If you're going to wash and reuse I'd recommend Pacman, that yeast is a sick monster. I made a starter from a large bottle of dead guy I got at the beer store. Very clean and smoooooth.

 

[devilishprune]

Is there a difference between the flavors produced by Nottingham and US-05 yeasts?

 

[DKershner]

Is there a difference between the flavors produced by Nottingham and US-05 yeasts?

Yes, although at low temperatures you would be hard pressed to tell the difference unless the beer is very light.

 

[heywolfie1015]

I've noticed from listening to CYBI that a lot of breweries use Wyeast 1968/WLP002 for a wide variety of styles, both American and British.