Was S-04 the right choice?

[wabn8c]

I brewed an American wheat this weekend. I have brewed this beer a few times before and used Wyeast 1099. This time I opted for a dry yeast. I had intended to use s-05 but was sent S-04 by mistake. I went ahead and rehydrated and pitched the S-04, as I didn't have time to wait for s-05 to arrive. I'm keeping my fermentation chamber set on 60 degrees, as I've read a lot about S-04 not performing well in the high 60s or above. Will my American wheat come out weird having used S-04 instead of S-05. Has anyone out there used s-04 for american styles and had good results? or bad results?

 

[madcowbrewing]

Keep temps low to keep esters at bay. It might not be as clean as the S-05, but will still make a decent wheat beer.

 

[DoctorDuvel]

You'll probably still enjoy the beer keeping the ferm temp low like you're doing. To me that yeast starts tasting weird (tart, pineapple) when it gets a little warmer.

 

[ba-brewer]

I used to use S-04 in the mid 60s for my american wheats and liked the results. To me it seemed pretty clean. I entered one of the beers in a contest and the judges said there was a tartness to that beer. I did some looking and found other people say it can produce a tart flavor, cant say I actually tasted it though.

 

[Spyk'd]

They are being kind (not that I'm not) S-04 is a major under-perform-ing yeast. I would definitely pitch new yeast (US-05 or better) NOW.



Either way, let us know how this comes out. That's the point, then really, right?

 

[VictoryAle]

I have not used s04 for American beers, but you mentioned you have used wyeast1099 in the past for this beer - I'm fairly certain s04 is the dry equivalent to wyeast1099, so that may please you..

 

[agrazela]

IME, S-04 at 63F and lower is a wonderful yeast, just a bit estery and with damned nice flocculation. At 64F and higher it throws strong apple-y esters and a tartness that I cannot stand.

 

[cyanmonkey]

I tried using it on a 2 Hearted clone. Kept it in low 60's and it came out decidedly "English".

I haven't used it since, but I'm not a big fan of English yeast in general.

 

[wabn8c]

Spyk'd- could you describe how US-04 was underperforming in your experience? What type of beer were you fermenting and what were the fermentation conditions?

 

[Sammy86]

Personally, I'm a huge fan of S04...I use it in my house pale ale and I enjoy it very much.

I can say that it hasn't underperformed for me...i ferment in the low 60's and it has attenuated very nicely.

 

[slym2none]

They are being kind (not that I'm not) S-04 is a major under-perform-ing yeast. I would definitely pitch new yeast (US-05 or better)

I have always heard that S-04 is a beast of a yeast.

 

[eadavis80]

Have never used it in a wheat - have only used WYeast 1010 in wheats. However, some of my best beers (chocolate stout, spiced pumpkin ale) were done with 04. I did a pale ale with it and it turned out fair.