Home Distiller

Howdy, I have been reading, and reading and reading posts since I found this sight. This is my very first question. Has anyone had any experience with WLP050 Tennessee Whiskey Yeast from White labs? This is the write up on their site:

Suitable for American-style whiskey and bourbon. This yeast is famous for creating rich, smooth flavors. Clean and dry fermenting yeast. Will tolerate high alcohol concentrations (15%), and ester production is low.

I have used their yeast making beer many times and have always been very happy with the results. I would like to hear if it really is any better than say an ale yeast or even Red Star bakers yeast. I did try searching the site using various combinations of the name but came up with nothing, but I could have been doing something wrong ( I frequently do). Thanks in advance.

I have not used that particular yeast but would certainly like to know how it does if you try it. Is it a liquid culture, smack pak?

Big R

My beer brewing days with full grain tell me thet yeast and temp control are pretty important. I would just like to find a place to buy some of this yeast to try no one seems to carry it.
Big Stogie.

Here is the link to the page it's on. The brewing supply in the town I live in does not normally carry this but they said it would be no issue to order it along with their normal yeast order. They sell it for 6 bucks. I am sure if you can find a brew shop near you they will order it for you as well. I'm gonna give it a go at some point and I'll let you know.

Whoops! Guess it would help if I actually posted the link. I believe it is a liquid yeast. I talked to the Brewing supply shop owner and was told it would last up to 3 months in the fridge.

http://www.whitelabs.com/distilling/yeast.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" rel="nofollow

I've been looking for a single vial of this yeast for a while. It's currently backordered on homebrewmart.com, one of the few places I've been able to find it. I have my doubts as to whether or not it will ever become available, they might be waiting to get enough orders to buy a set of vials from White Labs. You can buy direct from White Labs, but you get two slants for $114. I've been building up my personal inventory of yeast handling equipment (innoculating loop, agar, pressure cooker as a makeshift autoclave, etc.) to practice lab-style yeast handling. Maybe once I'm feeling confident I'll buy the slants and finally get to try it. Or maybe that $8 vial will just ship someday. I know that sounds like great lengths, but I just consider yeast handling a separate hobby, and call it a day.

Actually I just checked in on the order and they've got it in stock... looks like I won't be spending an arm and a leg for single colonies of yeast, after all. I'm still planning on making slant plates from these samples so I don't ever have to order this yeast again. I plan on trying this yeast on a few different grain mashes (100% sour rye mash, corn & distillers malt, maybe a more traditional 3- or 4-grain bourbon ratio), I'll write back whenever I have results.

Anyway take a look at homebrewmart.com if you want to buy a vial for yourself.

wow, they even list it on their site, thanks. I'll try my guy and see if he'll order it.

I know this is an old thread but i was wondering if anyone can speak to their experience using this yeast??

I know this is an old thread, but has anyone tried this? If so how did it turn out?

It's a good yeast to use. But there are many strains which are just as effective and much more economical. When making a whiskey ferment, the yeast selection is not as critical as you might think.

The specific gravity (OG) probably has a lot more to do with it than choosing a $7 snap-pack of liquid yeast. OK, if you're going to propagate and produce run after run, then the investment of a select yeast may be justified.

But regardless, you should not be pushing the yeast in a ferment higher than 10%ABV potential. It simply stresses the yeast and it (the yeast) will produce off flavors. It is suggested OG's around 1.070-1.075 are the upper limit for a good healthy whiskey ferment.
ss

When I ferment I tend to go in cycles, so the $7 for the yeast isn't a big deal, I'll do a starter and ferment hundreds of pounds of grain off that vial. Right now I'm using WLP070, all I can say so far is that it smells right.