Yeast for Leffe Clone

[agentgonzo]

I'm going to do a Leffe Blonde clone in a couple of weeks. I prefer to cultivate yeasts from bottles if I can get them, rather than shelling out £5 for a sachet of speciality yeast (it also gives me a greater sense of achievement). Looking at a bottle of blonde, it's filtered and not a sign of yeast at the bottom. Anyone know if they use the same yeast as another brewery or where I could get some from? As it's belgian monk's beer, I assume that it would be similar to Chimay or Rochefort yeast. Would these be suitable replacements?

[steve_flack]

It's not really a Belgian monks beer as it's brewed by one of the biggest brewers in the world (Interbrew/Inbev) using a licensed name.

Anyway, there's a Leffe Blonde-ish recipe in the Brewing Classic Styles book. IIRC that recipe uses WLP500/WY1214.

[oblivious]

Its not bottle conditioned as far as i know?

[steve_flack]

The only bottle conditioned (or at least it was) Leffe is the Tripel. That was brewed at a different plant to the other Leffe versions (at Hoegaarden). I don't know if the bottling yeast is the primary yeast or if it is viable.