9 replies to this topic

[ncbeerbrewer]

So I have two coupons each for a free vial of White Labs yeast. Last month was my homebrew club competition and they have coupons of these that they got the local homebrew store to place an order to redeem the coupons as they don't stock or carry White Labs. I have only brewed with WL once and that was WLP550 that I got last summer from a local brewery. I am planning to turn in my two coupons but am not sure which strains to pick. My question to you experienced WL guys is suggest to me what you think the two best strains of theirs that I should pick up. I brew all styles of beers and honestly the Cal Ale yeast I think its WLP001 and is like Wyeast 1056 I would prefer to skip. Suggest two stains that I should get, I would love something versatile and am open to most any styles as well. Suggest away please!!

[realbeerguy]

Personal choices would be Standard strains:WPL802 BudvarWLP 028 EdinburgWLP099 High GravityPlatinum SeriesWPL 885 ZurichWPL 510 BastoneKnow you said all purpose. You might want the 568 blend looks interesting. Same with the 575.

[Big Nake]

830 German Lager is one of my favorite strains. 940 Mexican Lager is one of the most unique strains I have tried and it's also one of my favorites. The WLP002 is similar to Wyeast 1968 so you could make some nice English Ales with that one (it flocs like a MOFO too). I also like the Burton strain (026 or 028?) for English Ales. Lastly, 036 is a nice Altbier yeast that can be used for various recipes. I use a LOT of WL yeast.

[Howie]

I've got a few favorites from White Labs.WLP007 Dry English - kind of like 002/1968, but ferments dryer. Some say it's the same as 1098, while other sources say no. The attenuation numbers certainly don't match up at all. Nice clean English strain.WLP006 Bedford British - this is an awesome English strain. Ferments strong with a unique ester profile. It's only available certain times of year, but I think it comes around again in July.WLP029 Kolsch - this is a great strain for really clean ales and pseudo lagers.WLP051 - nice American strain, makes a great pale ale. Supposedly the same as 1272, but I'm pretty sure they are not identical.

[macbrak]

+1 on the kolsch and dry english. Dry english is also a nice flocculator.

[ncbeerbrewer]

Thanks guys for all the great responses. I am looking forward to trying a couple strains from WL and see how it goes. Looks like I will have to plot out a few beers and figure which of these suggests goes best. I am a big reuser of slurries so whatever two yeasts I pick I will defintely repitch 3-4x each as well. All I have known really for the last 12 years of brewing is Wyeast so I am excited to see what White Labs has to offer and hey its free too so who can complain. Thanks again and Cheers!!

[stellarbrew]

If you like to make lagers, WLP802 Czech Budejovice is one to consider, and I don't think Wyeast carries the same strain. I really enjoyed it for a Pilsener, a Scharzbier, and a Boston Lager type of beer.

[lowendfrequency]

I've switched over almost completely to Wyeast, but I can't ever let go of WLP029 Kolsch. I don't make as much Kolsch as I used to, but this is by far my favorite White Labs strain. The Wy2565 can't hold a candle to that one.

[BarelyBrews]

I have used California V(WLP 051) yeast for the last six batches with good results.For me not much different than My normal yeast(safale 05).Kolsch yeast was good,Pacific i only used once, and edinburgh was good also.The others i have yet to try.

[drewseslu]

I use WL 007 for all of MBC's English and American Ales, a blend of 500 and 530 for Belgians and am about to use 810 for a run of lagers. WL 051 is also great for American Ales, as well and 830 is the 001 of lager yeasts.