| The homebrewer has two types of yeast to choose | | | | Fermentation with dry yeast starts quickly and helps |
| from; liquid yeasts or dry yeasts. For some this | | | | prevent your beer from getting an infection due to |
| argument is similar to a "taste-great less filling" debate | | | | lag time. Since dry yeast can be stock-piled you |
| or "Ford versus Chevy" discussion and is just a | | | | won't find yourself running out to your local brew |
| matter of preference while others are very | | | | shop to pick some up if you accidentally forgot to |
| passionate about their preference. Good beer can be | | | | purchase it. |
| made from both dry and liquid yeast and both have | | | | However, the selection of good dry yeasts is quite |
| their advantages and disadvantages. While many | | | | small, and therefore limits the range of possible beer |
| homebrew enthusiast claim that dry yeasts are a | | | | flavor profiles you can get with the yeast. Liquid |
| poor fermenter and can produce undesired flavors | | | | yeasts are pure cultures or blends of pure cultures |
| since they are not as pure a culture as a liquid yeast | | | | and come in a extremely wide range of choices |
| others favor the convenience and lower cost that | | | | allowing a lot of possibilities when it comes to |
| dry yeast offers. | | | | affecting the flavor profile of your beer (and if you |
| Dry yeast is inexpensive, convenient, hardy and does | | | | want to make a lager, liquid yeast is your only |
| not require a starter. However most experts agree | | | | option). There are a many wet yeast strains available. |
| that a starter would be beneficial when using a dry | | | | Each produce a distinct tasting beer. There are only a |
| yeast. A simple starter to rehydrate your dry yeast | | | | few dry strains available. Simply put, all of the subtle |
| is available right in your brew kettle. A starter will | | | | flavors offered by wet strains are simply not |
| create a larger number of yeast cells that are added | | | | available in dry form. Some of the most popular ones |
| to the wort resulting in a more efficient the | | | | are, but certainly not all. With liquid yeast you can |
| fermentation process. A more efficient fermentation | | | | propagate, split, and reuse wet to get your costs |
| results in a better quality beer with less likeliness of | | | | down, if you are careful about sanitation and want to |
| contamination. To create a starter simply remove 1 | | | | take the time to do so. You can split, and re-split to |
| cup of wort 30 minutes before the end of the boil | | | | get the cost on a per batch basis to less than half |
| and allow to cool in a covered container. Add the dry | | | | that of dry yeast. But, this takes a lot of time and |
| yeast and allow 10-30 minutes to proof. After this | | | | effort. |
| time the yeast should be visibly churning and/or | | | | For the absolute best beer, there is no question that |
| foaming, and is ready to pitch. I also find the addition | | | | liquid yeast is a superior product and worth every bit |
| of a good yeast nutrient to your wort to be very | | | | of the extra cost. But like so many things, we have |
| beneficial. The best nutrient is actually dead yeast | | | | time, money, and quality from which in many cases |
| cells in the form of Vegemite or Marmite yeast | | | | we can only choose two. If you want high quality |
| extracts. The addition of a yeast nutrient to wort | | | | and want to save time, buy a liquid smack pack with |
| promotes a healthy and hearty fermentation resulting | | | | a higher price tag. If you want high quality and want |
| in a beer with a lower final gravity. You can use the | | | | to save money, propagate from a liquid smack pack |
| trub from your kettle as an excellent yeast nutrient. | | | | which takes a lot of time. If you want to save time |
| Dry yeast also stores easily and it is hardy. Dry yeast | | | | and money, buy dry but recognize the fact that you |
| tends to produce a more solid yeast cake making | | | | probably won't get all the subtle flavor choices you |
| racking easier and producing a clearer final product. | | | | desire and possibly a lower quality, but nevertheless a |
| Also, dry yeast is much cheaper than liquid yeast. | | | | good, beer. |
| Liquid yeast can run 25% of the total cost to brew. | | | | |
