Wyeast vs White Labs

[skibb]

I'm really just curious what you all prefer. Are you a patron of one brand and not the other, or does it depend? How come?

Personally i like the Wyeast - something about the smack pack is just really neat to me.

 

[Splangy]

I like White Labs because their packaging is much easier to store (I have a rack in my kegerator to store it).
I can reuse the vials for washed yeast.

Yeast viability is not much an issue for me since I always make starters.
Also, one of the local brew stores usually has some discounted White Labs vials (past the sell date).

 

[rwinzing]

White labs because of the ease of use.

 

[OMJ]

I use whitelabs but really that is just cause my lhbs doesnt sell wyeast

 

[Yooper]

I don't have a brand preference, I just use whatever will get the job done and what's available at the best price.

 

[TexLaw]

I'm a White Labs man, myself. I like the vials better (they are useful), they are usually $1 cheaper than the smack packs, I don't have to fool with the smack pack thingy, and they've been pretty good about supporting Dixie Cup (until they stiffed us this year).


TL

 

[Joeywhat]

I had always used White Labs in the past as they were what was available. I didn't even know of Wyeast until just this past week when I started brewing again...new brew shop, better yeast selection.

I needed a weihenstaphaner yeast and couldn't find a White Labs offering so I grabbed the Wyeast. I think I'll still go with White Labs again if possible for ease of use and peace of mind...the Wyeast packaging just seems...like it's not enough or something. I'm sure it doesn't matter but it makes me sleep better at night

 

[hal2814]

I put that it depends on beer style but really it depends on availability. I remember a stand up comedian referring to Coke vs. Pepsi. He was talking about how they spend all this money on advertising and all they get out of it is:

Customer at restaurant: "I'll have a Coke."
Waiter: "All we have is Pepsi."
Customer: "OK, whatever."

I feel the same way about Wyeast vs. White Labs. My LHBS carries Wyeast. If they carried White Labs, OK, whatever. When I'm shopping at online sites that have both, I'll go with the cheapest option.

 

[Homercidal]

I prefer White Labs for several reasons;

1. Little Vials. I love these things. I can harvest some yeast and keep it right in there.
2. I make a starter anyway, so why mess with the smack pack?
3. I got a White Labs Shirt and Hat for winning 3rd at nearby homebrew competition.
4. I like the little vials...

I'm not sure why I started using White Labs. I have tried the smack pack and it seemed like a good idea at the time, but I now make starters for all liquid yeasts, so what's the point. I'm not saying Wyeast is worse, I just prefer the White Labs.

And I generally use dry for anything that I can get dry for. It's even easier and generally cheaper.

I'm not saying I'm picky, but if they only had Pepsi, I'll have water...

 

[android]

Wyeast because that's what the LHBS stocks. i've used WL before and they're both great yeasts, but i'd rather not have to order yeast online.

 

[Scimmia]

Eh, whatever's available. Occasionally only one or the other has a specific yeast, otherwise it doesn't matter a bit to me.

 

[greenbirds]

As far as the yeast itself goes, I think both companies' products are about equivalent. As for the packaging, I prefer White Labs. Smaller, easier to store, easy to sanitize the outside, old tubes are useful. And while I think the smack pack is a very good idea for people pitching straight into wort, it really doesn't make a difference if you're going to build a starter.

Oh, and the White Labs numbering system is much easier for me to remember as well. But that's more a limitation of my own brain I guess...:cross:

 

[HorribleCatfish]

Wyeast...they make 2112

 

[samc]

Normally I would not slip in the dry vs liquid yeast thing but you did add that to the poll.

1. Dry first
2. White labs as I don't really like the smack pack - too hidden, I want to see the little guys before I smack em.
3. Wyeast if I did not have the time for a starter.

 

[PseudoChef]

I prefer Wyeast. I like the packaging better. Resuspending the yeast in those little vials is a pain for me. I can just shake the Wyeast package and don't have to worry about it blowing up at me.

I also like the varied VSS from Wyeast while WL just seems to recycle the same Platinum strains.

2. I make a starter anyway, so why mess with the smack pack?

So don't. I don't. I just open the package and dump into the starter.

 

[JuanKenobi]

I used to always use White Labs, but now I tend towards Wyeast. I have to order everything online as I live on an island and have no LHBS, so they are the same price for me. I'm not sure why I switched. I like the Wyeast website better, not that that matters much. I think this may be the reason:

However, I did chose the 'depends on' option in the poll. I do use a lot of dry yeast as well. Lots of US-05 for IPAs. I don't see any reason to use WLP001 or Wyeast 1056 when I can use US-05 instead.

 

[SpanishCastleAle]

Wyeast...they make 2112

Attention all yeasties of the beer fermentation...WE ASSUME CONTROL! WE ASSUME CONTROL!

 

[ChshreCat]

Either dry or Wyeast, mainly because I've never seen White Labs at any home brew shop I've been to.

I'd probably still use Wyeast over WL anyway because it's a psychological thing. Little tiny vial... big smack pack... I feel like I'd get more yeast with Wyeast.

 

[HorribleCatfish]

Attention all yeasties of the beer fermentation...WE ASSUME CONTROL! WE ASSUME CONTROL!

Haha...I don't think I'll be able to hear Grand Finale without saying that now :rockin:

 

[philrose]

I tend to think of the smack pack as a viability test, not a tiny starter

 

[spaceboi13]

I prefer White Labs, it's just easier to handle.

 

[hal2814]

Wyeast...they make 2112

I never really noticed before but is all makes sense. Ferment a lager at ale temps and have a viable product in two weeks? 2112 has assumed control... of my pipeline. Out of 6 viable kegs, 3 are 2112 "pilsners," 1 is an IPA, 1 is Apfelwein, and 1 is sucking air. I have 3 jars of washed 2112 remaining in generation 1, more than any other strain right now.

 

[ottobrew]

I normally use White Labs just because it's easier to get, but I use Wyeast for their lambic blend and Roeselare ale blend.

 

[SpanishCastleAle]

Haha...I don't think I'll be able to hear Grand Finale without saying that now :rockin:

We are the yeasts...

 

[HorribleCatfish]

We are the yeasts...

...of the smack packs, from Wyeast.

There's a great parody in here somewhere.

 

[arturo7]

All your fermentations,
are started by our cells.

 

[Homercidal]

I prefer Wyeast. I like the packaging better. Resuspending the yeast in those little vials is a pain for me. I can just shake the Wyeast package and don't have to worry about it blowing up at me.

I also like the varied VSS from Wyeast while WL just seems to recycle the same Platinum strains.




So don't. I don't. I just open the package and dump into the starter.

Your vials explode on you?

 

[mklawz]

And White Labs shall inheeerrit the earth!

(my LHBS carries WL, so I use WL).

 

[Rhoobarb]

I like both. I believe some company's strains are better than others, depending on the style. For my Dry Irish Stouts, Irish Reds, my house ale and a couple of others, only WLP007 will do. For my O'Fest, bock and a couple of other German lagers, I really prefer WY2206. For my La Fin du Monde, WY 3864 Canadian/Belgian Ale is my only choice. For some, I like Notty.

I used to go to an HBS that only sold WL. Now I work closer to an HBS that only sells Wyeast, so I tend to use them. But I'm not adverse to traveling or going mail order to get WL yeast.

 

[PseudoChef]

Your vials explode on you?

Yeah. I couldn't get the yeast pellet to resuspend, so instead of just inverting the tube over and over, I shook it up a little. Shaking + PC's lack of common sense = half the vial lost.