I’m planning a 15% RIS in the near future, something I can put away for years, or stick in a barrel if I can get one. Anyways, I normally use WLP007 Dry English (WY1098) for my 11% recipe but I’m wondering if I should switch out for WLP001 California (WY1056) or even try WLP090 San Diego Super.
I’ll probably brew starter beers and pitch on yeast, so I need to plan ahead. I’ll have WLP001 available from an 10% IPA, which was resued from a 5% Blonde, so that would be nicely stepped up. I also have an Irish Red planned for WLP007 to begin with.
I prefer WLP007. It is pretty much my house yeast. You get a little yeast character from it. Not as much as WLP002 or WLP005, but certainly more than WLP001. I have not used WLP090, but I have a few vials ready to use. WLP007 and WLP001 attenuate about the same (78-80%), but WLP007 is better floculator. Not that it matters with a RIS since you wont be drinking it right away. Just my $0.02.
I use WLP 004 to make a 1.060 oatmeal stout, then pitch my RIS directly onto the yeast cake. It’s always worked well for me but I’ve never tried a 15% ABV beer. My RIS is usually only around 10.5-11% ABV.