what's your favorite yeast for making cider?

[Apple_Jacker]

I'm still trying to figure out which one I like the most, but what yeast do you guys like to use in your ciders?

I've used Nottingham, premier cuvee, and Lalvin ec1118 so far. I bought some montrachet, red pasteur, and safale S-04

 

[LeBreton]

1118, clean fermentation and goes dry just the way I like it. Stands up well to the acidic juice I prefer. Drops clear better than any other yeast I've come across. Oh, and cheap too!

I like the flavors of ale yeasts too, but have trouble getting them to clear in reasonable time without help. S-23 being most flavorful, then Notty, then S-05 and S-04.

But they're all good in my book, always rotating and trying new apple blends and yeast combinations.

 

[JtotheA]

Seems unconventional for cider, but really liking White Labs Belgian 550 and 575 Belgian blend. More expensive than the dry yeasts but I usually try to get the most bang for my bucks by doing 2 batches from one vial either by harvesting some but mainly just dumping fresh juice on a freshly racked-off yeast cake. Really like the S-04 too though.

 

[UpstateMike]

I like Nottingham, and Safale S-04.

Least favorite for cider is Red Star Premier Cuvee, and EC-1118. Although, the 1118 is my go-to yeast when I do Skeeter Pee.

 

[Apple_Jacker]

I keep reading good things about the S-04. Going to try it next.

 

[JonM]

Have you read this?

https://www.homebrewtalk.com/f32/results-juice-yeast-sugar-experiments-83060/

 

[AndrewTodd]

Notty seems to be bulletproof for me.

 

[ColbyJack]

I love the clean finish of US-05 and the higher octane-ability of EC-1118.

 

[aceparadis]

D-47, Very nice

 

[germanmade84]

Red star champagne

 

[watomlinson]

Ive used s-04, red star champagne, s-05, and multiple Belgian strains. For everyday use I usually go with s-04 or s-05. Champagne is good for the super dry stuff in my opinion, it eats through anything and in a fairly quick amount of time too. The Belgian strains are good for some nice specialty ciders. After I had woodchuck's Belgian white I was sold.

All in all though I'd have to say that s-04 is my favorite, oh and notti too.

 

[rgarry]

1118, clean fermentation and goes dry just the way I like it. Stands up well to the acidic juice I prefer. Drops clear better than any other yeast I've come across. Oh, and cheap too!

I like the flavors of ale yeasts too, but have trouble getting them to clear in reasonable time without help. S-23 being most flavorful, then Notty, then S-05 and S-04.

But they're all good in my book, always rotating and trying new apple blends and yeast combinations.

I agree with ec 1118. I use it since it runs dry, falls out well. It gives me a good alc %. The key with it is not to push passed 11%. If you want some sweetness add later and you got an American sweet cider ....high test