Beer Forum

Just getting back into AG brewing after about ten year break. I ordered some kits from Midwest, and it gives yeast options. Dry, Wyeast and White labs. Some of the reviews mention to "definitely" go with Wyeast. I don't remember any problems with dry yeast packs. I am wondering what you really get with the other yeast options. Faster fermentation? Different flavor? Is the extra money spent on Yeast really noticeable? Thanks in advance for any comments.

The main thing you get with liquid yeasts from Wyeast or White Labs is a much larger variety of strains which can give you a radically different selection of flavors. As far as getting a faster fermentation or a better flavor, that really depends on your pitching rate, fermentation temperature, the overall health of the yeast, etc... If anyone adamantly tells you never to use X company because their yeast terrible or whatever, it was probably because that brewer was inexperienced in handling the yeast and controlling their fermentation. These companies wouldn't still be in business if their yeast wasn't viable.

From my experience there isn't really a valid argument for Wyeast being better than White Labs or vice versa. I've used both companies numerous times with success but I personally just prefer the Wyeast smack packs to the White Labs vials. I think the only time when you would specifically choose X company's strain over the other would be if you preferred the performance of X company's strain over the other company's.

I think it's worth the $6.50 or whatever for liquid yeast.

Dry yeasts don't need a starter, and they are cheaper.
There are fewer strains of dry yeast, as well, so as long as there's a good dry yeast that fits the flavor profile you are looking for, the dry yeasts are a great choice.

For the liquid yeasts, if you are making a starter, there's no difference except for the subtleties of the strains themselves.
Some strains, such as Wyeast 3068, the subtleties are not reproducible in any other strain.
Likewise, White Labs WLP007 is said to be the same as Wyeast 1098, but I find 007 to typically finish cleaner and drier, while 1098 seems to finish a little more estery and sweeter. I find a similar trait with WLP001 vs Wyeast 1056, where sometimes 001 is almost too clean. Both are great, but the very subtle differences are noticeable and so depending on how you want to fine-tune the flavor profile, one strain may be a little better than the other.

Bottom line, the differences are in the subtleties.

Thanks, I think I will brew with the dry yeast. Copper ale, IPA, and an amber ale. Then try the Wyeast and compare. THe kits I ordered were Midwest, so they are matching the yeast to the beer types for me at this point. After I get some finished product, I can brew another and compare.