The difference between live and dry yeast.

[Brew_DD2]

I have the same experience. I dislike S04's tart taste; to the extent I have tasted it in commercial beer, checked, and confirmed that they were using S04, so I'm pretty taste sensitive to it. Liberty Bell smells so very different when fermenting, and doesn't have the same taste when done. I would be absolutely flabbergasted if they were the same yeast.

It's funny that we all seem to have yeasts that we can detect and dislike. Mine is the Verdant and Conan strains which just taste like vanilla custard to me. Its use has ruined Verdant's NEIPAs for me.

 

[Sadfield]

Just as an aside - after using Liberty Bell for ages as my main yeast, I decided to give S04 a try to see if I had misremembered, and in fact it was the same. It wasn't! I know, I know, risk of confirmation bias, although its worth noting that S04 would have been easier (and cheaper) for me to get hold of, so it would have been win win for me if it was the same. I'm really convinced it isn't.

Also, S04 is not a dried version of the Whitbread yeast, according to the various genetic maps floating around the internet.

I'm in a agreement regarding LB and S04. I'm inclined to think that MJ might be creating some of their own unique products, possibly from blending what is available. Liberty Bell feels like it sits somewhere in the mid Atlantic stylistically, in a way that no other dried yeast does.

 

[Cheshire Cat]

I suspect that MJ are not repackaged Lallemand or Fermentis yeast but from a smaller supplier probably in NZ. I think CML might be using the same manufacturer for some yeast and WHC dry yeasts as well.
Sadfield I read your thread in Jim's homebrew forum this morning re CML years really good thread.

 

[MickDundee]

I'm in a agreement regarding LB and S04. I'm inclined to think that MJ might be creating some of their own unique products, possibly from blending what is available. Liberty Bell feels like it sits somewhere in the mid Atlantic stylistically, in a way that no other dried yeast does.

Yeah Liberty Bell and California Lager done seem to match with any of the dried yeasts I’ve used/seen.

 

[Polcho]

@Polcho you might find these two yeast comparison videos by Brew Dudes useful,

These were really interesting. Amazing how much difference to the very same wort a different yeast can make!
Thames

 

[Polcho]

Whether there is more than enough in one pack depends on the batch size and OG. I have never used less than one pack but then I always overbuild my starter to store some in the fridge for another brew, you need to get hold of Homebrew Dads Yeast Starter Calculator and have a play with that I believe you can still download it HERE it runs on excel or Google Sheets, alternatively there is a online version. I have restarted yeast that has been in the fridge more than 8 months with no problem.
The thing with liquid yeast is it requires a little planning and a little bit of kit and a good methodology but is quite easy once done for the first time, plus fridge space to store it. In my opinion if you don't enjoy doing it then use dry yeast as liquid is only cheap if you are reusing. I would suggest buying the book Yeast by Chris White for a good in depth read and if you want to know yeast characteristics then look at the data sheets for the yeasts and they will tell you a bit about them, both Wyeast and White Labs. Like this for example HERE

Hi Galena, is this the book you are referring to?
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Yeast-Practical-Fermentation-Brewing-Elements/dp/0937381969

 

[Galena]

Hi Galena, is this the book you are referring to?

Yes, thats the book, well worth the purchase in my opinion and something you will always be able to refer to.

 

[Covrich]

It's funny that we all seem to have yeasts that we can detect and dislike. Mine is the Verdant and Conan strains which just taste like vanilla custard to me. Its use has ruined Verdant's NEIPAs for me.

Mine is CML yeasts.. although I think I am not alone as otehrs have questioned their quality too.. To me their quality seems inferior but to many others they are great.. maybe it is a palete thing

 

[MickDundee]

Mine is CML yeasts.. although I think I am not alone as otehrs have questioned their quality too.. To me their quality seems inferior but to many others they are great.. maybe it is a palete thing

I’ve only had good experiences with 2 of the CML yeasts - the Cali Common and the Kolsch. I have a Pia in the fridge to try out soon as it seems to get good feedback.

I dislike the real ale one about as much as I dislike S04

 

[The Baron]

Mick & Cov I predominately use CML yeasts and have virtually always had a good result having said that I maybe not the best person at noticing the difference in yeasts but I also agree with Mick re the real ale one as I too do not like it and it does not flocculate very well. I have used most of the CML stuff and more than once the Midland being my regular Ale yeast and Kentucky and Pia for IPA's etc. I have also used the Beoir one in a traditional ale/bitter and it was good similar to a cask ale yeast but does not attenuate down as low as the Midland leaving a nice residual sweetness to the beer.
I have just kegged my first try at the Hell lager yeast this week so we will see how that turns out as I usually only do Pseudo lagers because I do not have proper temp control at the moment

 

[MickDundee]

Mick & Cov I predominately use CML yeasts and have virtually always had a good result having said that I maybe not the best person at noticing the difference in yeasts but I also agree with Mick re the real ale one as I too do not like it and it does not flocculate very well. I have used most of the CML stuff and more than once the Midland being my regular Ale yeast and Kentucky and Pia for IPA's etc. I have also used the Beoir one in a traditional ale/bitter and it was good similar to a cask ale yeast but does not attenuate down as low as the Midland leaving a nice residual sweetness to the beer.
I have just kegged my first try at the Hell lager yeast this week so we will see how that turns out as I usually only do Pseudo lagers because I do not have proper temp control at the moment

TBH I’ve not tried any of the “new” range, all of my experience has been with the original ones - powdery pale, funny tasting real ale and under-attenuating saison.

 

[The Baron]

Think the Midland is Notty hence the name and I use that as my go to at the moment as I have always liked Notty or wilko

 

[Cheshire Cat]

I love CML yeasts and have used most of them and never had any issues at all. I detect a touch of snobbery towards them on this forum.

 

[MickDundee]

I love CML yeasts and have used most of them and never had any issues at all. I detect a touch of snobbery towards them on this forum.

No snobbery from me, I just genuinely didn’t like 3 of the yeasts which just so happen to be for 2 of the styles I make most, and one for a style Lallemand and MJ have set the bar for the dried yeast and it didn’t meet my attenuation expectations at all.

However I prefer their Cali Common yeast to M54, and before I started making ”proper” lagers I used the kolsch yeast constantly because it’s much better than K97

 

[Chippy_Tea]

I love CML yeasts and have used most of them and never had any issues at all. I detect a touch of snobbery towards them on this forum.

What a strange post, we all taste different things differently as posted above "it is a palate thing" why accuse members of being snobs because they disagree with your view on a certain yeast?

 

[The Baron]

I think knowing this member it is possible bait for later but who knows maybe I am becoming too sensitive to certain members comments-time will tell

 

[Brew_DD2]

I love CML yeasts and have used most of them and never had any issues at all. I detect a touch of snobbery towards them on this forum.

I seem to remember a really lengthy thread that was initially very positive about the CML yeasts. The critical comments only started when people had more experience using the yeasts. That doesn't strike me as snobbery.

 

[Galena]

CML? Meh a yeast for the peasants.

 

[Cheshire Cat]

What a strange post, we all taste different things differently as posted above "it is a palate thing" why accuse members of being snobs because they disagree with your view on a certain yeast?

Not strange and accusing no one just my opinion.

 

[Sadfield]

CML? Meh a yeast for the peasants.

Certainly My Leige