Wyeast vs White Labs

[craigd]

I use wyeast mostly because that's what the LHBS carries but I do like the viability test inherent in the smack pack. Given the choice I would probably still use Wyeast for that reason - it just gives me a good feeling about the yeast before pitching. I would use dry as my first choice buts it's rare that I make a beer that has a dry choice available...

 

[PseudoChef]

I like the Wyeast website better, not that that matters much.

That's definitely another reason for me. White Lab's website could use a better design

 

[rico567]

I put down Wyeast simply because that's what I started with, and except for a few flings with Nottingham or S-05, I've never used anything else.

 

[Zen_Brew]

Basically from a quality and performance perspective the two yeasts are both top notch. So for me, like several others it comes down to packaging. While the concept of proofing the yeast with the smack pack is nice, I make a starter anyway which accomplises the same thing. So I find the big packs annoying. I like the White Labs plastic vials, which I also sometimes reuse to store small quantities of my starter for later use on other batches.

 

[overflow]

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

It's both. The smack pack just contains yeast nutrient. I have never had to make a starter with a Wyeast smack pack, and probably never will. I've used White Labs too, and it worked out fine; guess I just prefer Wyeast. I think people make too big of a deal about yeast (starters really) in general. All yeast does is eat, fart, and multiply. In theory, even if a single yeast cell makes it into your beer, it will eventually multiply enough to totally ferment your beer. Wyeast smack packs pitch 100 billion cells. The only time I make a starter is in a very high gravity beer where the sugar content is so high it can actually overwhelm the yeast. I suppose with a starter you reduce the chance of infection by bringing up the alcohol content more rapidly, but you also introduce other potential problems like blow-off, etc. Just my two cents.

 

[Yuri_Rage]

I strongly prefer dry yeast, so I use it whenever it fits the bill. However, there are definitely times when liquid yeast is the only way to go (Belgian styles, hefeweizens, and many others). In those cases, I use whichever liquid yeast I find first/cheapest. I'm not very brand loyal.

 

[Zen_Brew]

I think people make too big of a deal about yeast (starters really) in general. All yeast does is eat, fart, and multiply. In theory, even if a single yeast cell makes it into your beer, it will eventually multiply enough to totally ferment your beer. Wyeast smack packs pitch 100 billion cells. The only time I make a starter is in a very high gravity beer where the sugar content is so high it can actually overwhelm the yeast. I suppose with a starter you reduce the chance of infection by bringing up the alcohol content more rapidly, but you also introduce other potential problems like blow-off, etc. Just my two cents.

Actually each time the yeast split off in a reproduction they surrender a certain percentage of their nutrient reserves. Eventually they become far less healthy, and can lose the ability to maintain a proper cell wall structure.

So the theory about a single cell reproducing into an entire colony that will ferment your beer is not entirely correct. A single cell could be nurtured over time and many nutrient enriched step ups into a colony. Basically underpitching a moderate to big beer causes undo stress on the colony by requiring to many reproductive cycles. The result is longer lag times, and less healthy yeast, which do not produce a top quality clean fermentation.

 

[TwoHeadsBrewing]

I used to prefer Wyeast, just because I could "proof" the yeast with the smack pack before pitching. If it didn't expand, I'd take it back to the LHBS and get a replacement or refund. BUT, now that I make starters for my beers it's not as critical. Now I pick the yeast that best fits the style of beer I'm brewing, and if there is a tie between vendors I'll take the cheapest one. For instance, when brewing up a American Pale Ale Wyeast 1056, White Labs 001, and Safale US-05 are all pretty much the same strain. I go with the US05 which is $3.50 vs. the others which are almost twice as much.

 

[the_Roqk]

I started out using Wyeast because that's my HBS had. Now depending on the style I want to brew I mainly use dry yeast. I've never used White Labs yeast. Just never seemed to matter to me.

 

[overflow]

Actually each time the yeast split off in a reproduction they surrender a certain percentage of their nutrient reserves. Eventually they become far less healthy, and can lose the ability to maintain a proper cell wall structure.

So the theory about a single cell reproducing into an entire colony that will ferment your beer is not entirely correct. A single cell could be nurtured over time and many nutrient enriched step ups into a colony. Basically underpitching a moderate to big beer causes undo stress on the colony by requiring to many reproductive cycles. The result is longer lag times, and less healthy yeast, which do not produce a top quality clean fermentation.

Well I stand corrected. Good info. Not that I would ever try pitching a single cell, but I've had good luck with the smack packs without ever making a starter.

 

[philrose]

Well I stand corrected. Good info. Not that I would ever try pitching a single cell, but I've had good luck with the smack packs without ever making a starter.

there are some styles where a fresh tube/XL pack is the proper pitching rate. sometimes its enough reason to sway me one way or the other on my next brew.

Example-

Option A-make an ordinary bitter and do all the work on brewday

Option B-make an ESB and have to remember to build up the yeast


No brainer for us lazy folks!

 

[gplutt]

I use Wyeast because:

1. Its what my LHBS carries.
2. Its local (Oregon) so its usually very fresh.

 

[khiddy]

I prefer dry yeasts, honestly, but when it comes down to it, I feel better about Wyeast because, like gplutt said, it's local (just up the river from PDX).

One thing that has bothered me, however. 100 billion cells in a smack pack, and they say it's enough to inoculate 5 gallons of <1.060 wort. However, mrmalty.com and all of the other calculators say that I should be pitching ~396 billion+ yeast cells in my latest lager (for which I was using WY2487-PC).

Why doesn't Wyeast put 400 billion cells in a lager smack pack, if they know you need to pitch more yeast in a lager?

 

[Chadwell]

I really love and prefer the Wyeast smack packs. Not that I have a problem with White Labs though. They are both great.

RANDOM QUESTION though on the Wyeast vs White Labs debate...WHY doesn't Wyeast put more effort into marketing? I don't see any t-shirts, stickers, magnets, Facebook groups, etc. I'd proudly wear a Wyeast shirt and display a magnet or sticker on my fridge which houses my bottled and kegged beer. I see White Labs does offer shirts and have other merchandise/fan groups. Anyone know?

 

[Montanaandy]

"I don't see any t-shirts, stickers, magnets, Facebook groups, etc. I'd proudly wear a Wyeast shirt and display a magnet or sticker on my fridge which houses my bottled and kegged beer."

My LHBS has Wyeast stuff (keychains, bottle openers). I like Wyeast because the LHBS carries it and I have had good results with it. Montanaandy

 

[sp1365]

I've taken a liking to dry yeast because it is cheap, but for liquid my LHBS stocks White Labs.

 

[MattHollingsworth]

Both White Labs and Wyeast. I generally use Wyeast more, but when I see a White Labs strains that Wyeast doesn't have that I wanna try, I go for White Labs. I think they're equally good.

 

[CGengo]

For my pale ales and standard English ales I like dry yeasts for their value, dependability, and ease of use; I also like the flavor profile. For anything else I go with Wyeast b/c that's what my LHBS carries. I've used WL before as well and they have a great product - my preference is only b/c of availability.

 

[adx]

I usually use dry US-05, but will dip into the liquid world when warranted. I prefer White Labs because the LHBS carries it, but I'll order Wyeast on-line if they only carry a strain I want.