WLP 072 Alternative

[Sjt_71]

Can anyone recommend a good alternative for White Labs' French Ale yeast? I've used it in place of 001 twice in a blond ale recipe and it is great. I like the very subtle ester profile that comes through in comparison to 001.

What a bummer that it is only available May-June. It's worth learning some yeast harvesting techniques so I can keep this one through the year.

 

[505-Brewer]

I have only used that yeast for a bier de garde type beer but really enjoyed it. I was thinking it would probably do well in an American pale, IPA etc.. Nice yeast. I generally keep a starter going or wash and recover yeast. Just started using chlorine dioxide which I'm sold on. Also just bought what I need for slants, plates etc. I too like having these yeasts around. It takes a bit of effort but probably worth it. I'm certainly looking forward to replacing erlenmeyers and growlers with small slants. I need the room in my fridge and chest freezer and other chest freezer..........Cheers.

Edit: not sure on an alternative.

 

[giraffe]

The dekoninck yeast thats on seasonal now, has also a subtle ester-ed belgian type yeast. Its close-ish.

Others vaguely in the ballpark: Wlp011 has an earthy ester which is nice in biere de gardes, and similar. Getting it to attenuate out though is sometimes problematic. wyeast1007/wlp036 leaves a subtle mineralness, and can give a tinge of fruit when fermented in the high 60s. wyeast1335, is a neutral british strain that emphisizes the malt over the hops, but is really quite clean.