Cal Ale - US-05 vs WLP001 vs 1056

[yellowcolumbia]

I support those who support the BN. I've got a couple packs of US-05 in the fridge, but I use WLP-001 95% of the time.

[Brew Engineer]

I use 1056. Wyeast products are more readily available in the local HBS's in the area. I also like how easy it is to store and use.

I never buy yeast through the mail (don't want to risk temperature/shipping problems), and like to support the local HBS.

[Bugeater]

Two of my favorite Cal Ale strains weren't even mentioned, Wyeast 1272 (Cal Ale II) and PacMan. I do, however, use WLP001 most often.

Wayne

[whoateallthepies]

I use 1056. Wyeast products are more readily available in the local HBS's in the area. I also like how easy it is to store and use.

I never buy yeast through the mail (don't want to risk temperature/shipping problems), and like to support the local HBS.

How do you think your LHBS gets their yeast stocks? I like the idea of supporting your local, but they have to get the yeast shipped to them too.

[Brew Engineer]

I use 1056. Wyeast products are more readily available in the local HBS's in the area. I also like how easy it is to store and use.

I never buy yeast through the mail (don't want to risk temperature/shipping problems), and like to support the local HBS.

How do you think your LHBS gets their yeast stocks? I like the idea of supporting your local, but they have to get the yeast shipped to them too.

Yes, but they get a large shipment with freezer packs. If I'm just buying one or two packs at a time, I don't want them taking a week to travel UPS ground. I'm also too cheap to pay the extra couple bucks to ship yeast 1 or 2 day shipping.

[SacoDeToro]

How do you think your LHBS gets their yeast stocks? I like the idea of supporting your local, but they have to get the yeast shipped to them too.

My LHBS get shipments same or next day since it and White Labs are both located in Socal, but that's obviously not the case with most LHBS.

In my experience, viability drops off slower than much of the info on the net would have you believe. Unless it takes an excessively long period of time for the yeast to get to you and/or it gets crazy hot during transportation, a starter should take care of any issues. Good sanitation and repitching also ensures you can have a large amount of healthy yeast for many back-to-back brews. I've had many yeasts go 5-6 generations without any issues.

Personally, I prefer WLP001 and have had very consistent results with it in over 200+ brews that I've used it in. A few professional brewers I know have moved away from it claiming that in this last year many lots were "off," have since switched to 1056, and reported shorter lag times with initial pitches. A few brewers in my club use US-05 with good results, but IMO, it's not quite as clean as beers brewed with 1056 or WLP001.

[meisterofpuppets]

So, brewing Jamil's scottish ale. Is there really enough discernable difference to merit using WLP 001 as opposed to US-05?