difference in yeast prices, is it worth it?

[Shn00dleS]

http://www.easybrew.co.uk/products.php? ... e=10&id=44

was browsing this site and noticed a huge difference in price between the yeasts from 90p for £5, i intend to brew an abbey beer in a while, is it worth paying £5 for a yeast which is specific to these beers?

even in a normal lager, bitter or stout is there more to be gained from buying a more expencive yeast than the supplied stuff? better flavour?

[steve_flack]

For a Belgian I'd say yes. You also would need to make a starter. Failing that then use T-58 as it's the most 'Belgian' of the dried yeasts.

IIRC a few people have had problems with Easybrew so you may want to do a search here for other people's experiences of that retailer.

[Shn00dleS]

thanks for the reply,
how do you mean make a starter? start off with normal yeast, then add the good stuff later?

also can normal beer, stout or ale be enhanced with a better yeast?

[Dennis King]

Its all down to personal taste. A lot of brewers on this forum seem to have no problem with dry yeast, but I think the liquids justify the price. I think Its a much cleaner beer. But you might find it easier to start with dried. Some good guides on this site for starters, and you can split the yeast and get 6 brews. Hop and grape I think are the only homebrew shop to sell the Whitelabs yeast.

[Duncndisorderly]

Whatever you decide to go for, DO NOT USE EASYBREW, seriously there a bunch of thieves and scoundrels and not in a green tight thigh slapping way, much more the take your money and send you nothing in return kinda way, Ba%$£rds , phew thats better

[steve_flack]

thanks for the reply,
how do you mean make a starter? start off with normal yeast, then add the good stuff later?

A starter is like a mini batch of beer. Basically you make up a small (1 or 2L) batch of wort - usually using DME (not sugar) and grow the yeast up in that. You then pitch that into the beer proper. (You can decant the spent wort off the yeast or add it all).

also can normal beer, stout or ale be enhanced with a better yeast?

I think they can. You can make decent enough beer with dry yeast but liquid yeasts offer a wider range of flavours - personally I don't like S-04 except in dark beers and Nottingham is dull as dishwater. I use liquid for Belgians and British ales and dry for lagers (S-189 or W34/70) and American ales (US-05).

Having said that, I got 80L (two 40L batches) of beer out of the last whitelabs tube I bought. That works out as not a lot more than buying dry yeast.

[Shn00dleS]

o right, just use a bit and put it in the fridge, like it. i may do a post serch on makin a starter,k

thanks for the replies and i wont be using easybrew!

[steve_flack]

Actually no, what I did was make a starter with all of it, use that in one brew then re-use some of the yeast from that brew in a second batch.

Some people do make starters then split it into some sanitised PET bottles. I don't think just using some of the yeast from the packet is a good idea - you can't reseal a wyeast anyway - might be OK with a Whitelabs vial.