Westmalle Clone - yeast question

[DaveGillespie]

Hi all, my second AG batch went in the fermenter yesterday and I am planning an order for another couple of brews. One of these is a Westmalle Dubbel clone going by a recipe from Seymour here:

viewtopic.php?f=5&t=55742&hilit=leffe

I've yet to try my hand at a starter so I'm looking at a dry yeast for this - probably T-58. Will I notice a huge difference vs one of the Liquid strains? Would I even need to make a starter for this if I was using liquid?

Or is there another dry yeast I should be using?

[6470zzy]

You could indeed use T-58 for this beer, although if I were given a choice I would use Wyeast 3787. I would also make a starter with the liquid yeast.

Cheers

[Belter]

I definitely try and get Westmalle yeast for this. The same one posted above wyeast 3787 or white labs wlp530. I don't think it will taste very close without it. Wyeast smack packs don't require a starter and make liquid yeast easy. Give it plenty of time to inflate though (even though it says you don't have to). White labs is just as easy really though following the instructions.

[DaveGillespie]

Are the Whitelabs instructions online anwyhere? The place I'm ordering from only carries Whitelabs and not Wyeast so extra postage on the Wyeast would be pricey enough.

Also how long do the Whitelabs vials keep? I'm planning this for the brew after next, probably December time but the order will be going in this week.

[Belter]

Pretty sure the answers to all your questions are on whitelabs.com. Ideally you'd have a 2L conical flask and a stir plate but a mason jar and shaking regularly will suffice. I don't know where you're ordering from but The Malt Miller puts the best before date on his website iirc. If the shop has regular turnover you should he fine. Especially with a starter.

[DaveGillespie]

thehomebrewshop.Co.uk - malt Miller has massive postage cost to northern Ireland. Will have a look on the whitelabs site.

[Matt12398]

Yes agree with the liquid yeast suggestions. T-58 is nothing like Westmalle and is rumoured to be derived from the Chimay strain. It would not work in a Westmalle clone in my opinion. With something of that starting gravity you'd need to do a starter regardless of which liquid yeast brand you use.

[6470zzy]

With something of that starting gravity you'd need to do a starter regardless of which liquid yeast brand you use.

+1 you will be best off with the starter, the extra effort will pay off

Cheers

[Belter]

Agreed I wasn't actually thinking about the gravity. A starter is a must

[jmc]

thehomebrewshop.Co.uk - malt Miller has massive postage cost to northern Ireland. Will have a look on the whitelabs site.

UK couriers do charge extra for NI, Highlands and Islands, so I agree that for heavier orders TMM customers in NI will be charged more. But to be fair other UK-based suppliers do the same.

However I don't think you're right about TMM costs to send yeast and other lighter items to Northern Ireland.

TMM use Royal Mail for whole of UK up to 600g, that's about 5 White Labs vials?

[barney]

Brewlabs Trappist yeast is very good. I did a side by side with a yeast cultured from a Westmalle bottle and you could barely tell them apart. The Brewlabs yeast gave off slightly more Plumy esters.