Comrades in brewing, I have a question...

[Whorst]

I am looking for a liquid English strain that attenuates, but also gives off English character.

WLP002-Good, but leaves residual sugar.
WLP005-Used once, seems alright. Confused, because I used in a dark beer.
WLP013-Have not used. Description claims, "dry, malty ale yeast."

Has anyone ever used Safale-04 and got it to attenuate below 1.010??

Cheers,

Whorst

[mysterio]

WLP007 'Dry English Ale' yeast is pretty good. Needs a good bit of oxygen to get the attenuation out of it.

[Whorst]

Maybe I'll try the 04 again, but mash relatively low.

[Scooby]

Ive just used Wyeast 1275 hoping to achieve similar results you're after Whorst.

Attenuation 74% described as 'Classic yeast for British beers. Gives rich complex flavour profile which is clean with low esters.

Supposedly Brakspear yeast.

[iowalad]

Wyeast 1028 is in the same ballpark as 1275 attenuationwise.

[oblivious]

WLP005 for me at the mo

I have heard it called the yeast that does what S04 promises

[BarnsleyBrewer]

I can't knock S-04, it's all I've used since I started brewing again in Feb after a 5yr absence.
It ferments quick, sediment is solid and to be honest I'm no expert at judging good ale, but I like what I'm brewing and so do all the people I know!
I find it hard to believe that liquid yeasts are loads better and as easy to brew and bottle as Safale, it's cheap too!!
I will say it's also better than Muntons, Gervin and Edme.

John

[des]

I was talking to the brewer at Cropton Brewery, they just throw in dry S04 and produce fantastic beers, I do this myself and am delighted with the results. usually get 75% attenuation, last effort went from 1.046 down to 1.012 giving 4.55% ABV and tastes lovely, ready to drink after 12 days with no more finning than a Whirlfloc tablet.

[mysterio]

I agree, SO4 is an excellent yeast but I never seem to get to attenuate much beyond 3/4, or at least that's the way it tastes (I rarely measure final gravity). That's the way I like it anyway, it's the only yeast I use in lower gravity beers.

US-05 seems to attenuate between 80 & 85 % for me, but I don't like the flavour as much as S04.

[Whorst]

Interesting. 05 sucks if you're trying to make an English beer. Way too neutral, clean, etc. It's the business if you're trying to make a West Coast Pale Ale though. 04 masks hop flavor and aroma. I believe this is largely due to attenuation. It finishes with more residual sugar. I am going to experiment with the 04 and see if I can get it below 1.010.

[Martin the fish]

I can't knock S-04, it's all I've used since I started brewing again in Feb after a 5yr absence.
It ferments quick, sediment is solid and to be honest I'm no expert at judging good ale, but I like what I'm brewing and so do all the people I know!
I find it hard to believe that liquid yeasts are loads better and as easy to brew and bottle as Safale, it's cheap too!!
I will say it's also better than Muntons, Gervin and Edme.

John

Liquid yeasts aren't miles better but they do give your beers a certain taste that you can't get from dried, IMO. I've only used a few liquid yeasts and i find them much better. 1275 has a wonderful flavour but does attenuate a lot. Leaves low gravity beer a bit thin. 1968 is a bit bland to me. S04 tastes a bit bland to me too. But i do like using it. I've had it ferment down to 1006 from 1040 but usually it finishes at about 1010 for me. It's not great but it is reliable and cheap.