How do you choose a yeast?

Question

What characteristics do you look for in a yeast to pair with your recipe? Is there a common reference?

Answer 1

For me some styles showcase yeast like Belgians, Hefes, some English styles, etc. Others showcase malts or hops and yeast shouldn't play much of a role. For me I generally stick with some clean ale yeast like 1056 or Pacman for IPA's, Blondes, etc. And then obviously for something like a hefe I choose 3068.

As I reference, if you car about style guidelines, look at the BJCP style guidelines for whatever your making. They will usually mention what role yeast character should or should not play.

Answer 2

There's a great reference for yeast and what characters they lend to beer that I use all of the time to figure out what flavors I want to incorporate into my brew from yeast.

BYO Yeast Guide

Back in another life, I was working on making a searchable yeast database, but that site is now mostly defunct and out of date. I still use that little app occasionally, though. I can't post two links in a post right now, so I can't give you a link. Maybe someday.

Answer 3

I normally brew "to style", meaning that when I make a beer I choose ingredients that match a particular style. Right now I am drinking my Classic American Pilsner. I drink enough beers to know, in general, the flavor characteristics I like in a beer and choose a yeast that produces them.

Brewing to style narrows your yeast choices. When choosing a yeast for the CAP I reviewed the characteristics of the White Labs and Wyeast lager offerings. I also listened to the Jamil Show's episode on the style. From the flavor profile descriptions I choose a yeast that best suits my taste (and fermentation capabilities).

When not brewing to style, such as my Rye of the Hurricane recipe, I pick a yeast that compliments the flavors I want to get out of the beer. I like British ales, so I often choose London Ale III from Wyeast.

Some good advice, which I have yet to follow, is to really get to know a single strain of yeast. Brew a number of recipes with a single yeast. That way you know enough to make it produce the flavors you are looking for rather than choosing a yeast for the flavors it produces.