Bottled my split batch APA over the last 2 evenings: WLP001 Cal Ale yeast vs. WLP007 Dry English Ale yeast.
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Will look forward to a side-by-side taste test in ~3 weeks.
Cheers.
Finally reporting back as to the results of my split batch: American Pale Ale ... 91% 2-row, 9% crystal 40, Magnum to bitter, Cascade late in the boil and at flameout. No dry hop. Split coming out of the kettle into 2 fermenters: one with WLP001 Cal Ale and one with WLP007 Dry English Ale
I
was able to tell them apart but it was more difficult than I expected, particularly if you have an assistant prep the samples for you and you have no idea what's coming. I was sort of expecting 2 very different beers, but that was not the case.
The WLP001 had a slightly more floral aroma ... a little bit easier to detect the cascade. The WLP007 aroma was very pleasant as well, with just a tick less floral.
Taste: the Cascade was accentuated slightly more by the WLP001, but not by as much as I expected. I was expecting the WLP007 to be "fruitier", and I really didn't get that vibe. The bitterness was very similar. The WLP001 may have given a slightly sharper perception of bitterness, but man, not by much. The more I drank, the closer together they became; the first swig was the most revealing.
My neighbor tried them both and thought the WLP007 was "smoother" (his words). Wifey tried them, and though she's not a huge beer girl, she preferred the WLP007, because the WLP001 was "greener."
All that being said, I think I preferred the WLP001, but both were very drinkable. And in the absence of one another it would be harder still; if you gave me just 1 without telling me which one I was trying, I'm not convinced I could successfully tell you which one you gave me. All in all a fun and revealing experiment.