US-05 vs Nottingham?

[gnutz2]

I've been using US-05 a lot and love the clean flavour this yeast produces but i'm getting sick of the fluffy yeast sediment in the bottle and its low flocculating properties.

i've read that Nottingham has a similar clean taste but flocculates well and sticks to the bottle bottoms.

Would it be wise to switch? I've never used it before.

[RichardG]

Firstly, I should state that I've never used US05; however, I have used Nottingham and can confirm that it is an excellent flocculator. Given that the profile of both is apparently virtually identical, I'd opt for Nottingham. Others may feel differently.

[mark4newman]

Hi

I switched for the same reasons. Nottingham is a good alternative and it does stick to the bottom of the bottles. However, I have found that is does attenuate to high levels (I've had 90%), and can be tart until the beer is fully mature. Also it seems to knock a lot of the hop flavour out. However it does seem to be a yeast that just keeps on going, no matter what. So now I tend to use it when I am doing stronger beers, or mash at 67C when doing lower gravity ales.

The best alternative for US05 I use WLP007, English dry yeast. This seems to work a treat for me, and it falls out very well , and makes a jelly at the bottom which again sticks well.

[gnutz2]

90% attenuation does sound a tad too much, i imagine this will give the beer less body too?

What about a mash at 68 to give a higher finishing gravity.

Does wlp007 give more esters than US-05?

Does anyone else have an alternative?

[keith1664]

I've used Wyeast 1272 (american ale II) several times and really like it, it floculates well and gives you a bit more malt than US-05 yet still allows the hops to shine.

[mark4newman]

Hi

The 90% was on a reciepe that didn't have any crystal in it. It was Marris, and T wheat. Also I used Servomyces, which I find tends to help with the Attenuation. It was the first time I had used Nottingham, so I didn't realise that it was such a muncher of sugars.

To get some more body, I primed with DME, which helped and aging it also help.

[Laripu]

I'be used Nottingham a lot, and never got over 80% attenuation.

It is a clean fermenter, and works down to 57F. I've verified that more than once.

[RichardG]

There's also Brewlabs who have an excellent yeast along these line which I've used; F40. Worth a try in my opinion, and excellent in hoppy pale ales.

[gr_baker]

I've used both with success though have never had a problem with flocculation with any yeast, although that could be due to my water as a friend in London brews the same beers with the same yeasts and never gets completely clear beer.

Recently I made a brew that I split into two, fermenting one half with Nottingham and the other with US05. Immediately after fermentation was complete, the US05 had more hop character but after 3 months in bottle it was impossible to tell them apart. Maybe you could try something similar, then you'd get a good idea of which suited you?

Russell

[Rookie]

I've used Wyeast 1272 (american ale II) several times and really like it, it floculates well and gives you a bit more malt than US-05 yet still allows the hops to shine.

I've got a 1272 starter going right now: first time I've used it. I'm using it instead of my usual yeast because it's rated good down to 60 F as my brew room is in the low 60s this time of year and the usual yeast is rated best at 68-70. 1272 also drops clear better.
The date on the pack was nearly eight weeks ago. I smacked it wednesday night and it was fully inflated in the morning. I made a one quart starter yesterday and saw a lot of activity in just a few hours.

[gnutz2]

I've been using US-05 a lot and love the clean flavour this yeast produces but i'm getting sick of the fluffy yeast sediment in the bottle and its low flocculating properties.

i've read that Nottingham has a similar clean taste but flocculates well and sticks to the bottle bottoms.

Would it be wise to switch? I've never used it before.

Well i've done a couple of beers with Notty now and i'm not sure if i prefer it over us-05 yet, the differences i noticed were.

Reaches FG very quickly, 4 days for a 1.044og beer @ 20c

Flocks out super quick, and forms a rock solid sediment, producing very clear beer with no finnings.

Beer conditions very quickly, a week in the bottle and it was fine to drink, two weeks and it was good and at 3 weeks there was not much change.

And the flavour seems to be dryer and sharper than than us-05, this is the bit i'm not sure about

ATM i think i prefer us-05 but i still have another 4 packs of notty left so i'll carry on experimenting. I might try upping the mash temp a little or adding some carapils next brew.

Cheers Baz

[Rookie]

I've used Wyeast 1272 (american ale II) several times and really like it, it floculates well and gives you a bit more malt than US-05 yet still allows the hops to shine.

I've got a 1272 starter going right now: first time I've used it. I'm using it instead of my usual yeast because it's rated good down to 60 F as my brew room is in the low 60s this time of year and the usual yeast is rated best at 68-70. 1272 also drops clear better.
The date on the pack was nearly eight weeks ago. I smacked it wednesday night and it was fully inflated in the morning. I made a one quart starter yesterday and saw a lot of activity in just a few hours.

This beer was very clear after three weeks in the FV. Three weeks after bottling it was voted the people's choice in catagory two (over three years experience) at a home brew beerfest.

[weiht]

i very much prefer US05 as nottingham does come across very v bland and a little tart. In fact, i read that us05 is a mutation of nottingham

[Manx Guy]

Hi!

I've used both US 05 & notts and I do find the reluctance of US 05 to floc a bit of a pain...
I dont mind the 'tartness' of Notts and otherwise find it clean.

I also used Dry Irish Ale (WLP 004) and liked that in a pale ale...

The jury is still out on 1469 - it did need a bit more attention during fermentation but seems to hav edropped clear - so mt TTL clone will get kegged tonight!

Guy

[gnutz2]

Hi!

I've used both US 05 & notts and I do find the reluctance of US 05 to floc a bit of a pain...
I dont mind the 'tartness' of Notts and otherwise find it clean.

I also used Dry Irish Ale (WLP 004) and liked that in a pale ale...

The jury is still out on 1469 - it did need a bit more attention during fermentation but seems to hav edropped clear - so mt TTL clone will get kegged tonight!

Guy

Hi Manx Guy, i find the the ability of US-05 to not flloculate is no match for some gelatine (comes pretty clear in a few days), although it still doesnt set in the bottle like notty does.