Just got back from my local home brew store and they are out of 001. That’s what I’ve always used for my IPAs and I’m brewing this Saturday. I picked up 051 and 007 at the recommendation of the store owner. Reading about it, seems like 051 might leave a sulfur taste, which I absolutely hate. And 007 might be fruity and fuller bodied? Does anyone have experiences with these two strains with an IPA and Opinions? Thanks.
If you’re very sensitive to sulfur aroma/taste, you’re probably best going with WLP007. It should be pretty clean, especially if you control fermentation temperature. White Labs specifically lists WLP007 as a substitute for WLP001, so I think that is a safe substitution!
I haven’t gotten much sulfur from WLP051 in my past brews with it, but I think it will also likely drop out with conditioning.
WLP051 is actually a pastorianus (lager) yeast, hence the sulfur.
WLP007 produces some sulfur as well. It is indeed a bit more fruity, but not full bodied.
Either way, if you do get the dreaded sulfur, no worries. Just let it age an extra few weeks, the sulfur will disappear with age.
Thanks Dave, but then why is a beer like Stella still kinda skunky?
It shouldn’t be skunky. Where are you getting your bad Stella from?
Maybe I have gotten bad Stella. I think I just don’t like the yeast they use. Stella compared to a Munich Pilsner is so different to me and I just like the German versions better. I think I’ve just chalked it up to the yeast and it’s giving me a negative perception of yeast that is used.
Oh… Stella comes in green bottles, doesn’t it… then the skunk comes from being lightstruck. UV light and hops don’t get along. If you get Stella on draft, it tastes much better with zero skunk.
Interesting . That makes perfect sense.
Yep. Skunk is not the yeast’s fault at all. Bright light, bright light.
I have had good experiences with WLP007 in West Coast style IPA (I don’t know what kind you are planning on brewing). It is similar to the strain that Stone brewing uses in their “regular” IPA.