s2cmpugh
Well-Known Member
Which one produces the best tasting beer and why? For the past 8 months or so I've been using White labs with pretty good results, but I'm curious as to what everyone thinks about the different manufacturers and styles.
Yeast come in two main product forms, dry and liquid. (There is also another form, available as pure cultures on petri dishes or slants, but it is generally used as one would use liquid yeast.) Dry yeast are select, hardy strains that have been dehydrated for storability. There are a lot of yeast cells in a typical 7 gram packet. For best results, it needs to be re-hydrated before it is pitched. For the first-time brewer, a dry ale yeast is highly recommended.
Dry yeast is convenient for the beginning brewer because the packets provide a lot of viable yeast cells, they can be stored for extended periods of time and they can be prepared quickly on brewing day. It is common to use one or two packets (7 - 14 grams) of dried yeast for a typical five gallon batch. This amount of yeast, when properly re-hydrated, provides enough active yeast cells to ensure a strong fermentation. Dry yeast can be stored for extended periods (preferably in the refrigerator) but the packets do degrade with time. This is one of the pitfalls with brewing from the no-name yeast packets taped to the top of a can of malt extract. They are probably more than a year old and may not be very viable. It is better to buy another packet or three of a reputable brewer's yeast that has been kept in the refrigerator at the brewshop. Some leading and reliable brands of dry yeast are DCL Yeast, Yeast Labs (marketed by G.W. Kent, produced by Lallemand of Canada), Cooper's, DanStar (produced by Lallemand), Munton & Fison and Edme.
Dry yeasts are good but the rigor of the dehydration process limits the number of different ale strains that are available and in the case of dry lager yeast, eliminates them almost entirely. A few dry lager yeasts do exist, but popular opinion is that they behave more like ale yeasts than lager. DCL Yeast markets two strains of dry lager yeast, Saflager S-189 and S-23, though only S-23 is currently available in a homebrewing size. The recommended fermentation temperature is 48-59°F. I would advise you to use two packets per 5 gallon batch to be assured of a good pitching rate.
The only thing missing with dry yeast is real individuality, which is where liquid yeasts come in. Many more different strains of yeast are available in liquid form than in dry.
Liquid yeast used to come in 50 ml foil pouches, and did not contain as many yeast cells as in the dry packets. The yeast in these packages needed to be grown in a starter wort to bring the cell counts up to a more useful level. In the past few years, larger 175 ml pouches (Wyeast Labs) and ready-to-pitch tubes (White Labs) have become the most popular forms of liquid yeast packaging and contain enough viable cells to ferment a five gallon batch.
The use of active dried professional yeasts for amateur brewing is a relatively new phenomenon introduced by Lallemand. Now, choose your active dried yeast for brewing with confidence. Ask for Danstar superior quality yeasts at your local retailer.
keepitcold said:i like wyeast because of it's packaging no light gets in and the smack pack in allows you to see how viable the yeast is.
For example, as already stated, WLP001, 1056, and US-05 are all, supposedly, the "Chico" (Sierra Nevada) strain. Pitched at the same temperature, pitch rate, and nutrient environment.
The only time I use liquid yeast is if I am making a beer where the yeast drives the style, where certain flavor characteristics are derived from the yeast
I like wyeast because of it's packaging no light gets in and the smack pack in allows you to see how viable the yeast is.
The smack pack doesn't cause yeast to grow? I thought the smack pack was a bunch of growth nutrients.
S-04 is supposed to be a Whitbread strain, so WLP007/WY1098 would be the closest equivalent.WLP002/WY1968/S-04. I can't tell the difference between 002 and 1968, but S-O4 (the closest dry yeast to the liquids) is nothing like as good to my taste. Then again S-04 is supposed to be a different strain than the other 2.
-a.
Based on my experience, US-05 produces more fruity esters (particularly peach and apricot) and doesn't flocculate as well as WLP 001. It's still one of the better dry yeasts out there in my opinion, but I generally go with liquid these days.
Good comparison info. Thanks AJF.WLP001/WY1056/S-05. I can't tell the difference. That doesn't mean there is no difference, just that I can't spot it.
WLP002/WY1968/S-04. I can't tell the difference between 002 and 1968, but S-O4 (the closest dry yeast to the liquids) is nothing like as good to my taste. Then again S-04 is supposed to be a different strain than the other 2.
WLP013/WY1028. Supposed to be the same strain. I like WY1028, but find WLP013 to be bland and not at all pleasant. No dry equivalent that I am aware of.
WLP023. Awesome! Haven't tried the WY equivalent, and I'm not aware of a dry equivalent.
Nottingham. Haven't found a liquid equivalent.
-a.
I agree completely, but if you want WLP002/WY1968, but you want a dry yeast, S-04 doesn't quite cut it. I still use it as a substitute in an emergency. I also tried WLP007 some years ago, but I never tried comparing it against S-04 so I can't comment about how they compare.S-04 is supposed to be a Whitbread strain, so WLP007/WY1098 would be the closest equivalent.
asterix404 said:The wyeast stuff with a smack pack is still good about self propagating and you get a lot of yeast, but it should still be propagated in a starter.
Someone correct me, but I thought wyeast and white labs have essentially the same yeast cell counts.
As for the op, they're all very good. You can't go wrong with the dry yeast and I especially like them for lagers since I can just buy a few packs and not make a starter.
I agree completely, but if you want WLP002/WY1968, but you want a dry yeast, S-04 doesn't quite cut it. I still use it as a substitute in an emergency. I also tried WLP007 some years ago, but I never tried comparing it against S-04 so I can't comment about how they compare.
-a.
Even if you use liquid, I would keep at least 1-2 packets of Notty or US-05 around. Just in case your starter doesn't start or you drop it or whatever. Seems like cheap insurance.
L
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