Wyeast or White Labs? New to liquid yeast

[terrapinj]

No, the yeast is in the outer pack. The bubble thingy you smack is the starter wort. So you could just dump the yeast right out. That said, I've never done that, I've always done the smack-and-wait.

I mostly use WL these days though, for reasons stated - more convenient packaging that is reusable.

it's Not starter wort - it's nutrients that get the yeast active but does not result in any growth

 

[ResumeMan]

it's Not starter wort - it's nutrients that get the yeast active but does not result in any growth

Er, I think it's a wort. It's not enough of it to grow any (meaningful amount of) yeast, but I'm pretty sure it's just a wort, i.e. a maltose-heavy sugar solution.

Is it really something else?

 

[ArcaneXor]

I've gone back to using 1056 instead of 05.

I usually use 001 now. 05 really doesn't like to flocculate as well as the liquid strains, and is more prone to throwing off peach/apricot esters.

 

[terrapinj]

it's nutrients and wort - I wanted to clarify the starter portion - i'm sure its just semantics but I like to be careful because you never know when a new brewer is going to read and draw the wrong conclusion

The small inner packet contains the sterile nutrient and wort that feeds the yeast before it is added to your fermenter.
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The cell count does not increase significantly when the package is activated.. The smack-pack is not designed to dramatically increase the cell count, it simply “activates” the yeast metabolism.

http://www.wyeastlab.com/faqs.cfm?website=1#r15

 

[OvaTersley]

White Labs = reusable and recycle-able container; FTW.
If you don't want it to explode when you open it, break the seal when you first pull it out of your fridge, and place it in a coffee cup so it sits upright. The CO2 will then slowly escape as it builds up in the container. Just be sure to give the outside of the container a squirt of Starsan.

 

[jma99]

Liquid? Meh....

Fermentis, Notty, etc...

I only use liquid when I brew a Belgian, Scottish, or something that can benefit from a liquid.

These are NOT your father's dry yeasts! Try them! Bullet proof and fast!

 

[OvaTersley]

Liquid? Meh....

Fermentis, Notty, etc...

I only use liquid when I brew a Belgian, Scottish, or something that can benefit from a liquid.

These are NOT your father's dry yeasts! Try them! Bullet proof and fast!

Variety is the spice of life my friend.
I like dry yeast as well as the next guy, but I also like to change things up a bit. When you go to the store to buy beer, do you always buy the same brand?

 

[MaddBaggins]

I've been using White Labs for 15 years. Thats what my local store carries.

 

[kh54s10]

IMO All of them, Wyeast, White Labs, and the Dry Yeasts are equal when used properly. One may have the right style while another doesn't for a given recipe.

I have used all of them and really have no preference. I just use the one that fits the situation.

 

[krebs119]

A few other people mentioned it, but no one linked to it. White Labs gives you free stuff if you buy their yeast:

http://www.whitelabs.com/beer/homebrew_customerclub.html

That's honestly what has me coming back. I've used both brands, and I typically make starters or pitch on an old cake, so the number of cells per vial/pack and smack pack nutrients don't mean all too much to me. They both have very similar strains so you should be able to find just about whatever you want to brew from either company. My LHBS mostly carries Wyeast, but I buy from AHS/NB/MWS 9 times out of 10, so I have my choice either way.

 

[Denny]

DOH! That wasn't supposed to be a question....I just type worse than usual when I use my iPad!

 

[Breck09]

I've used both and the only reason I like Wyeast over White Labs is because Wyeast doesn't fizz up when I open. Wyeast is just easier to work with in my opinion.

 

[HerbieHowells]

A few other people mentioned it, but no one linked to it. White Labs gives you free stuff if you buy their yeast:

http://www.whitelabs.com/beer/homebrew_customerclub.html

That's honestly what has me coming back. I've used both brands, and I typically make starters or pitch on an old cake, so the number of cells per vial/pack and smack pack nutrients don't mean all too much to me. They both have very similar strains so you should be able to find just about whatever you want to brew from either company. My LHBS mostly carries Wyeast, but I buy from AHS/NB/MWS 9 times out of 10, so I have my choice either way.

Hmmm... .25 cents extra times ten vials = 2.50 for a vial of yeast down the road. This thrifty Scot might be changing his tune.

 

[theDeutscher]

I could have sworn it used to be 5 vials and not 10 to get a free one. I was all ready for a freebie.

 

[qrzcod]

White Lab vials work perfect for holding scroll saw blades.....

 

[helmingstay]

Liquid? Meh....

Fermentis, Notty, etc...

I only use liquid when I brew a Belgian, Scottish, or something that can benefit from a liquid.

These are NOT your father's dry yeasts! Try them! Bullet proof and fast!

After hearing people get good results with Nottingham I tried it in a round of beers lately, and I was pretty underwhelmed. It *worked*, it made beer and was easy to use, but it didn't have the nice mix of subtlety and complexity that I expect from an English strain. It did give some nice flavors on aging, but it's not quite there.

US05 is the only dry yeast I've used that holds a candle to wet yeast. That said, I mainly keep it around now as a backup.