Yeast recommendation on a kit

[wgbrooks77]

Hiya!

I'm pretty new, I'm on my 8th kit, not moved onto raw materials yet. I've been given a gozdawa lager kit. Repution is pretty poor, so I thought I might take this opportunity to have a play with yeast, and see if I couldn't improve the kit.
I'm looking for some recommendations, preferably commercially available in the U.K. Fairly cheap.
Penny for your thoughts

 

[MyQul]

Unless you have a brew fridge I'd go for a steam beer yeast (lager yeast that can be fermented at ale temps). Dry - Mangrove jacks http://mangrovejacks.com/products/californian-lager-m54-yeast-10g or liquid, Wyeast 2112/White labs WLP810

 

[strange-steve]

Saflager 34/70 is a great lager yeast and it's not too fussy about temperature, just stick the fermenter in the coolest place in your house and it'll be fine.

 

[Grizzly299]

Saflarger S23 makes a good California common. Though you are unlikely to achieve the subtle toasted malt and caramel malt flavours of a true "Steam Beer" unless you steep some grains.

Gozdawa claim that they pair their kits with style appropriate yeasts. I wonder if it suffers bad reviews because most beginner homebrewers are not able to keep temps down low enough for the larger strain paired with the kit, resulting in a very fruit estery larger.

 

[mike77]

Nottingham is a cheap and versatile yeast. Brewed at the cool end it will produce lager like results and at the hotter end clean ale. Don't think you can go wrong with having a few packs of Nottingham at hand. It will brew just about anything and will clear well when done fermenting

 

[marlon]

Unless you have a brew fridge I'd go for a steam beer yeast (lager yeast that can be fermented at ale temps). Dry - Mangrove jacks http://mangrovejacks.com/products/californian-lager-m54-yeast-10g or liquid, Wyeast 2112/White labs WLP810

Listen to Myqul, he knows about yeast:)

 

[wgbrooks77]

Unless you have a brew fridge I'd go for a steam beer yeast (lager yeast that can be fermented at ale temps). Dry - Mangrove jacks http://mangrovejacks.com/products/californian-lager-m54-yeast-10g or liquid, Wyeast 2112/White labs WLP810

At £4 that's top end of my budget 😂 But I've taken your advise.
Wish me luck! On a side note, has anyone ever added stuff to these tin mixes, like fruit or wood chips?

 

[MyQul]

Wish me luck! On a side note, has anyone ever added stuff to these tin mixes, like fruit or wood chips?

No I haven't but other forumites have so may be able to answer your Q. Although I am aware of how you go about doing it

 

[MyQul]

At �£4 that's top end of my budget 😂 But I've taken your advise.
Wish me luck! On a side note, has anyone ever added stuff to these tin mixes, like fruit or wood chips?

If you want to 'go cheap' mike77's suggestion of nottingham is a good one. It's only £1.79 from wilko (sold as 'ale yeast') and will make a nice clean beer plus the added bonus of it stickes really well to the bottom of the bottles

 

[wgbrooks77]

No I haven't but other forumites have so may be able to answer your Q. Although I am aware of how you go about doing it

So how do you do it then?