Wyeast 2105-PC

[Twinkeelfool]

Was able to get a nice pitch of Gen 1 Andechs from BSI from a local brewery. Very interested to see how it compares to X and the Wyeast Rocky Mtn Lager.

Did all Andechs in one Fv and 60/40 Andechs / Global in the other.

Also used some copper in the kettle this time around as I’ve been dealing with some sulfur lately with 835.

What temps do you normally ferment 835 at? I will be pitching soon at 8c. I usually pitch slightly cooler, then bring up to 10c.

 

[couchsending]

What temps do you normally ferment 835 at? I will be pitching soon at 8c. I usually pitch slightly cooler, then bring up to 10c.

I've been pitching at 46 and fermenting at 50. At 1.020 I'll let it go to 54. That's the only fermentation
curve I've seen recommended for this yeast. KC Bier Co in Kansas City, who makes fantastic true to type German lagers is who recommended this as I guess it's what they do. I don't think this yeast is as good cold as 34/70. It seems to do a little better a touch warmer. I'll usually hit terminal in 6-7 days with this schedule. Leave it for 2 more days then slowly cool 3* F per day to 39 where I'll leave it for 7 days then continue to 30 or transfer to a keg and krausen.

 

[Broothru]

For anyone interested I found some Wyeast 2105-PC at altitudebrewing.com in Denver, CO. I've never ordered anything from them, but they do have a wide selection of brewing paraphernalia. Prices seemed a tad high, but not out of reason.

One thing they do carry is a yeast brand that I'm not familiar with called Propagate Lab. I get the feeling their main customer might be commercial breweries, but they have a very detailed downloadable .pdf cross-referencing their yeasts with other common yeasts, along with the supposed origins. According to their chart, there are actually (at least) three Chico variants, two of which are allegedly common to Sierra Nevada and one common to Stone. That seems to support the spreadsheet data that D.M. Taylor compiled from numerous sources.

Anyway, the chart is worth perusing even if their yeasts don't interest you, but they claim to have 2x the cell count of Imperial and 4x Wyeast, for $12. Worth a look-see.

 

[Twinkeelfool]

I've been pitching at 46 and fermenting at 50. At 1.020 I'll let it go to 54. That's the only fermentation
curve I've seen recommended for this yeast. KC Bier Co in Kansas City, who makes fantastic true to type German lagers is who recommended this as I guess it's what they do. I don't think this yeast is as good cold as 34/70. It seems to do a little better a touch warmer. I'll usually hit terminal in 6-7 days with this schedule. Leave it for 2 more days then slowly cool 3* F per day to 39 where I'll leave it for 7 days then continue to 30 or transfer to a keg and krausen.

Thanks mate!

Wonder what shipping would be from Denver to NSW Australia?!?

 

[Broothru]

Probably quite pricey, I'd say, especially if properly chilled for transport. Unfortunately I no longer fly internationally or else I might be inclined to stash some in my flight kit to save you the shipping! After all, anything to broaden the international fellowship of the brew.

 

[ba-brewer]

For anyone interested I found some Wyeast 2105-PC at altitudebrewing.com in Denver, CO. I've never ordered anything from them, but they do have a wide selection of brewing paraphernalia. Prices seemed a tad high, but not out of reason.

One thing they do carry is a yeast brand that I'm not familiar with called Propagate Lab. I get the feeling their main customer might be commercial breweries, but they have a very detailed downloadable .pdf cross-referencing their yeasts with other common yeasts, along with the supposed origins. According to their chart, there are actually (at least) three Chico variants, two of which are allegedly common to Sierra Nevada and one common to Stone. That seems to support the spreadsheet data that D.M. Taylor compiled from numerous sources.

Anyway, the chart is worth perusing even if their yeasts don't interest you, but they claim to have 2x the cell count of Imperial and 4x Wyeast, for $12. Worth a look-see.

It looks like Wyeast 2105-PC was last released in the winter of 2020. Probably still good but seem like it may be past the recommended use by date.

I am a Lager X user, will be interested to hear how you feel the two compare incase I lose my lager X.

 

[Broothru]

It looks like Wyeast 2105-PC was last released in the winter of 2020. Probably still good but seem like it may be past the recommended use by date.

I am a Lager X user, will be interested to hear how you feel the two compare incase I lose my lager X.

I've got 2 vials of WLP835 Lager X, an out of date WLP838 that is currently on the stir plate In the 2nd step, and an 833 on order. In addition there's about 300 ml dense 2105-PC slurry that got harvested 4 months ago that's still viable for a starter.

I've been pretty busy lately (for a retired guy) but should be in a position in a few weeks to start brewing in earnest. Right now I'm trying to plan the line up with pils, Helles, Bock and Vienna in mind. Got all the grains, now I've got to decide which of 4 yeasts to use in the 4 different brews. Just about any one yeast would work with any or all of the planned beers.

Then there's still that Kolsch I've been waiting to brew since November. The WLP029 for that one is right at its "Best Used By" date. Yeah, I know. First World problems.

Brooo Brother

 

[couchsending]

The BSI Andechs that I got from a local brewery is just about done. Got great attenuation and smells/tastes great at only 9 day post pitch. Going to start cooling tomorrow. I split this batch and did Andechs in one and 60/40 Andechs/Global in the other. Very interested to see how they compare. Both are done and hit similar gravity.

I will say the BSI Andechs is more “Coors-like” than the WL version. No isoamyle acetate but the gravity sample I tasted today just somehow resembled Coors and I’m not sure how exactly.

 

[Broothru]

So your 60/40 Andechs/Global was the BSI Andechs + Weihenstephan (L17/WLP830/34/70)? That actually sounds like a pretty nice yeast blend. That's great that you were able to get a sample of the BSI Andechs to try. The only retail homebrew versions of Andechs I've seen are the WLP-835X and supposedly Wyeast 2105-PC, though the Altitude Brewing website I found the other day carries a brand of yeast called Propagate Labs that markets an Andechs lager strain for home brewers. I'm not familiar with the brand, other than they're Colorado-based in Golden (Coors.... Coincidence?). Here's a link: www.propagatelab.com/ The specific strain is "MIP-620 Andechs Lager".

 

[Twinkeelfool]

I've been pitching at 46 and fermenting at 50. At 1.020 I'll let it go to 54. That's the only fermentation
curve I've seen recommended for this yeast. KC Bier Co in Kansas City, who makes fantastic true to type German lagers is who recommended this as I guess it's what they do. I don't think this yeast is as good cold as 34/70. It seems to do a little better a touch warmer. I'll usually hit terminal in 6-7 days with this schedule. Leave it for 2 more days then slowly cool 3* F per day to 39 where I'll leave it for 7 days then continue to 30 or transfer to a keg and krausen.

Wow, I’m a big fan, my lager has been kegged 2 days, with a 30hr carbonation. Silky smooth with a very slight and very pleasant sulphur character. I’m trying to leave some for next weekend for a catch up with beer loving friends but hmmmm!

 

[couchsending]

Wow, I’m a big fan, my lager has been kegged 2 days, with a 30hr carbonation. Silky smooth with a very slight and very pleasant sulphur character. I’m trying to leave some for next weekend for a catch up with beer loving friends but hmmmm!

Nice yeah I think it’s a great easy to use yeast. Floccs well, pretty fast, nice and clean pretty quickly. Has a really interesting soft/malty profile.

I’ve started using the 34/70 variants lately as the one thing about the Andechs strain is it tends to mute hops a bit. Hard to make a great hop accented Pils with it or a more modern hoppy lager.

 

[Broothru]

Sad news to report to fans of Wyeast 2105-PC "Rocky Mt. Lager".

I received an email about my order from Altitude Brewing & Supply in Colorado stating that their supplier informed them that Wyeast has suspended production of 2105-PC except in commercial pitch volumes. They couldn't tell me if this was a temporary or permanent suspension, but it certainly appears that at least for this year and for the foreseeable future it won't be available for home brewers. I haven't reached out to Wyeast Corporate for a definitive answer, but I have started propagating my 6 month old clean harvest 1st. generation 2105-PC with eyes toward plating/slanting some and freezing the rest. I'm also looking to source a good Andechs strain replacement yeast.

These "vault" yeasts are starting to get pretty frustrating. First there was the fiasco last year with all the White Labs special yeasts (which is still continuing; I can't find any WLP-860 anywhere, and this year's 835 vanished almost as soon as I'd secured my first 2 vials). Now Wyeast is ceasing distribution (in retail volumes) of a yeast I've really taken a liking to. I'm beginning to say, "screw it," and just settle on some SafeAle-05, 34/70, and Nottingham dry yeasts for my brewing needs. I really like using liquid yeasts, but the frustration level with these companies is starting to wear thin.

O.K. Rant over.

 

[couchsending]

Sad news to report to fans of Wyeast 2105-PC "Rocky Mt. Lager".

I received an email about my order from Altitude Brewing & Supply in Colorado stating that their supplier informed them that Wyeast has suspended production of 2105-PC except in commercial pitch volumes. They couldn't tell me if this was a temporary or permanent suspension, but it certainly appears that at least for this year and for the foreseeable future it won't be available for home brewers. I haven't reached out to Wyeast Corporate for a definitive answer, but I have started propagating my 6 month old clean harvest 1st. generation 2105-PC with eyes toward plating/slanting some and freezing the rest. I'm also looking to source a good Andechs strain replacement yeast.

These "vault" yeasts are starting to get pretty frustrating. First there was the fiasco last year with all the White Labs special yeasts (which is still continuing; I can't find any WLP-860 anywhere, and this year's 835 vanished almost as soon as I'd secured my first 2 vials). Now Wyeast is ceasing distribution (in retail volumes) of a yeast I've really taken a liking to. I'm beginning to say, "screw it," and just settle on some SafeAle-05, 34/70, and Nottingham dry yeasts for my brewing needs. I really like using liquid yeasts, but the frustration level with these companies is starting to wear thin.

O.K. Rant over.

White Labs doesn’t have any 835 left? You called them? They had 140 vials a month ago. I’ve got some I can send you and could probably send you some of the BSI Andechs if you want.

 

[Broothru]

I really appreciate the offer. I've got two vials of the 835 which will keep me supplied for this year, plus I'll be getting the Propagate brand Andechs pitch in the next week. Between slanting some samples for near term use and freezing samples that are capable of propagation for several years, I've probably got it covered for a while.

How did your BSI Andechs/Global dual pitch work out? It seems like it would be a great blending of yeasts, and I'm thinking about trying it when I get my starters and ranching sorted and get back to actually brewing beer.

Cheers