KIt Yeast?

[degsie73]

Just wanted to see if people use the yeast with the kits they buy or replace it with a specific yeast
and for what reasons? I notice that if you buy something like safale 04 yeast it comes in a sachet
about twice the amoiunt you would get with the kit supplied one!
What do people think out there?

 

[abeyptfc]

ive always just used the general kit yeast and had no real problems, last night i was ordering some star san online and decided to buy a pack of safale 04 yeast, £1.30 odds! just to see if it is any better as im planning on using it on a john bull ipa that ive already brewed with the kit yeast.

 

[artyb]

ive used some safale o4 and its was excellent, you get a bit more than you get in a kit yeast,

i saved the slurry and used in the next brew and it worked fine, so cheap as chips really.... :party:

 

[Moley]

I notice that if you buy something like safale 04 yeast it comes in a sachet about twice the amount you would get with the kit supplied one!

And therein lies the problem.

Kit yeasts will usually do the job, or certainly with budget kits where you're adding easily fermentable sugars. With the premium two-can kits that's where you start running into problems because you're not pitching enough yeasties but presenting them with a bucketful of malt, which is why I think we hear so many stories about Wherry etc. sticking at 1.020

Choice of yeast can make a big difference to the final flavour you will get from your brew. Kit yeasts will usually be a basic ale yeast, but you should get a better product if you use more of a better yeast.

Incidentally, I've used S-04 a few times but am now switching. I've recently split a 45 litre brew and fermented half with Safale S-04 and the other half with Danstar Nottingham. After 2-3 months I've tasted them both side by side and made my own decision. I've also given bottles to my workmates with no explanation, just different coloured crown caps, and asked them if they could discern any difference or had any preference. They have ALL come back and said they preferred the one with the red cap, which was also my own choice - the Nottingham.

 

[anthonyUK]

They have ALL come back and said they preferred the one with the red cap, which was also my own choice - the Nottingham.

This is the next thing I'll be changing. I'm finding the kit supplied yeast works great but is bland. I'm looking for a yeast that will provide some fruity esters which I believe the Nottingham WLP039 or Wyeast 1968 would do along with an increase in ferment temp and under pitching to a degree.

Which one did you go for Moley?

 

[Aleman]

Nottingham won't give you fruity flavours (unless you ferment it at 27C :sick: )

Try Windsor for fruit

And don't underpitch

 

[anthonyUK]

Nottingham won't give you fruity flavours (unless you ferment it at 27C :sick: )

Try Windsor for fruit

And don't underpitch

Cheers. I was only using this yeast guide for assistance - http://beersmith.com/Yeasts/Yeasts.htm

Are there any better ones (guides not yeasts)? :)