Yeast brands - same or different?

[Ghengisken]

So I am now aware, thanks to these boards, that I can get hold of both Wyeast and Whitelabs yeast, through different suppliers.

What is the opinion on the two brands? If I buy an equivalent yeast from each supplier, am I getting exactly the same yeast but in a different bottle? Do WL and Wyeast cultivate their own individual cultivars of a certain style or do they package up the same thing in a different jar?

If the yeasts are identical, do people think one brand is superior to the other, and if so why?

i.e are they actually different, or just the same thing with a different label?

I've always used Whitelabs in the past, but am very happy with Wyeast too.

Thanks for your thoughts,

GK

 

[richc]

The larger Wyeast packs and the White Labs vials are pretty much equivalent. The smaller Wyeast packs are a bit more tricky as they really need a decent starter to get enough yeast to pitch. Personally I mostly use White Labs vials simply because the vials are really handy for storing yeast for reuse.

 

[Ghengisken]

Thanks richc,

Does that mean you scape some yeast off the krausen and stick it back into the Whitelabs tube? How long does that keep in the fridge? I like the idea of reusing it.

GK

 

[Good Ed]

You can split the yeast to use for future brews; have a search on the forum for splitting yeasts; also this is good from Horden Hillbilly :

 

[dennisking]

I prefere Whitelabs, just because I find the smackpacks a pain in the ****.

 

[richc]

Thanks richc,

Does that mean you scape some yeast off the krausen and stick it back into the Whitelabs tube? How long does that keep in the fridge? I like the idea of reusing it.

GK

What I tend to do is make a starter 1l bigger than I think I need and stick some of it back in the tube (after draining off most of the spent wort).