Alternative to London yeast.

Share your experiences of using brewing yeast.
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Top Cat
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Alternative to London yeast.

Post by Top Cat » Fri Oct 13, 2023 3:05 pm

I’ve recently discovered Lallemand are discontinuing London yeast. I use this yeast frequently, its inability to ferment all the sugars in the wort gives me a full bodied taste that I prefer in my pale ales and bitters, gravity tends to stop at around 1016. I think Windsor will do the same, but I’m not sure of the results. Although I sometimes use liquid yeast, I prefer dry for convenience.
Any suggestions guys?

drjim
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Re: Alternative to London yeast.

Post by drjim » Fri Oct 13, 2023 7:22 pm

Crossmyloof general ale seems to stop at a sensible point, just had to do an emergency drop out of a fermenter that had a small leak around the tap when indoors warm. It's been in the shed cooling a week or so with a batch of bitter in. OG was 1043 and had stopped at 1012 now at 21 days total. May have mashed a bit hotter than 65 but not enough to make it all dextrinous etc.

I went to get the hydrometer jar filled and as the tap turned a large leak started so stuck a bucket under it and ran to get the two bags I had left starsan in when I emptied them earlier in the year. Quick washout and dropped it all in pronto. Tasted great and will be very nice through my hand pump.

These bags https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/144252304663 fortunately 14.4 L each so my 26L of beer that didn't leak out fitted in nicely.

When I went to clean the bucket it turned out the plastic threaded spigot bit had cracked and was on the brink of failure. When the leak appeared I thought about pulling onit to hold the nut against the inside and twisting, but the leak was bad enough I just ran for the bags. Turns out a good decision, if I'd pulled it at all it would have split and left beer all over the shed floor.

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bitter_dave
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Re: Alternative to London yeast.

Post by bitter_dave » Sat Oct 14, 2023 8:09 am

Top Cat wrote:
Fri Oct 13, 2023 3:05 pm
I’ve recently discovered Lallemand are discontinuing London yeast. I use this yeast frequently, its inability to ferment all the sugars in the wort gives me a full bodied taste that I prefer in my pale ales and bitters, gravity tends to stop at around 1016. I think Windsor will do the same, but I’m not sure of the results. Although I sometimes use liquid yeast, I prefer dry for convenience.
Any suggestions guys?
That's a shame I used London in the past and thought it was good for the reasons you say. Some people rate Muntons Active yeast (i.e. not Gold) - for example Rookie - for being less atttenuative, and it also has the benefit of being readily available and cheap (even if you use two packs). I've not used it enough to be able to be able to comment from my own experience though.

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MashBag
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Re: Alternative to London yeast.

Post by MashBag » Sat Oct 14, 2023 11:39 am

I like CML Firm - less atttenuative and adds a little flavour.

Tbh, their "four" is good if not better than s-04


https://www.crossmyloofbrew.co.uk/yeast-specs

Top Cat
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Re: Alternative to London yeast.

Post by Top Cat » Sat Oct 14, 2023 1:23 pm

MashBag wrote:
Sat Oct 14, 2023 11:39 am
I like CML Firm - less atttenuative and adds a little flavour.

Tbh, their "four" is good if not better than s-04


https://www.crossmyloofbrew.co.uk/yeast-specs
Yes, the Firm is probably worth a try. I also use S04 it drops like lead, but the lower attenuation of London gives me a little more flavour to the beer.

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MashBag
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Re: Alternative to London yeast.

Post by MashBag » Sat Oct 14, 2023 3:07 pm

I actually like Firm and Midlands co-inoculation and at cml prices.. Why not.
Last edited by MashBag on Mon Oct 16, 2023 7:56 am, edited 1 time in total.

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bitter_dave
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Re: Alternative to London yeast.

Post by bitter_dave » Mon Oct 16, 2023 5:41 am

MashBag wrote:
Sat Oct 14, 2023 11:39 am

Tbh, their "four" is good if not better than s-04

https://www.crossmyloofbrew.co.uk/yeast-specs
Why/how s it better?

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MashBag
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Re: Alternative to London yeast.

Post by MashBag » Mon Oct 16, 2023 7:59 am

IMO it's a bit less bland, certainly a better price.
Clears quicker & still a good floccer.

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bitter_dave
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Re: Alternative to London yeast.

Post by bitter_dave » Tue Oct 17, 2023 8:07 pm

MashBag wrote:
Mon Oct 16, 2023 7:59 am
IMO it's a bit less bland, certainly a better price.
Clears quicker & still a good floccer.
Thanks. Will have to give it a try.

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Re: Alternative to London yeast.

Post by Gnorphy » Sun Oct 29, 2023 10:22 pm

I think wlp002 finishes quite sweet.

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