Improving the results of a kit with another yeast?

[trustyrusty]

Hi - I have a can of coopers draught that I want to try. I have got some extra yeasts I bought that are in the fridge.

Couple of Safales (?) and Danstar West Coast Ale. Draught seems to be middle of the road, not ale or lager - so I thought I might try another yeast. Does really make a difference using a 'better' yeast or not worth wasting. I think I have a Safale 06, 05, 54 - but there is little info on pack.

Any ideas? I hear that most of the coopers yeasts are Ale yeasts...

Thanks

 

[maaark]

Hey Rusty, using a spec yeast would be a good start to improving your kit beers. It just depends on what recipe you plan to use with your Draught tin.

If it is just a kit & kilo brew the S-04 will help to bring out a bit more of the malt flavour. If you plan on adding "New World" hops (US, NZ & AUS) the Danstar or US-05 will help to bring these forward in the brew.

Info on the Danstar yeasts can be found here - > http://www.danstaryeast.com/products/bry-97-american-west-coast-beer-yeast

And the Fermentis (Saf Ale) strains here - > http://www.fermentis.com/brewing/homebrewing/product-range/

As a quick guide with the Fermentis range keep this in mind:
S-04 is for English styles
US-05 is for American styles
WB-06 is for Wheat beers.

 

[Blind Dog]

Yes it makes difference using a good quality yeast

Safale US-05 is a clean US yeast, but can be dusty (i.e. take a while to flocculate)
Safale WB-06 is a wheat beer yeast so throws fruity / spicy flavours inappropriate for a Coopers draught

Not sure what Safale 54 might be (T-58, S-04 or W-34 maybe?): http://www.fermentis.com/brewing/homebrewing/product-range/

Danstar BRY-97 West Coast Ale is similar to Safale US-05 but (IMO) leaves a little more fruit and a cleaner beer

How old is the kit yeast? Personally I quite like the Cooper's kit yeasts if they're fresh

 

[Bribie G]

Coopers kit yeasts are often a mix of two yeasts in order to be flexible for brewers who might be fermenting anywhere between 16 and 28 degrees depending what shed or garage the Mrs has relegated them to.
In your case you wouldn't necessarly get better results using another yeast unless you have good temperature control.

My pick would be the US-05 but as posted by Blind Dog it can take a while to settle. However that would give more of a "James Squire" style of ale. The S-04 would be a bit more Pommy.

For dark ales the kit yeast is pretty good, I once did a fairly convincing All Grain Toohey's Old version that got a place in a competition.

 

[trustyrusty]

Thanks, sorry late reply - I forgot to tick follow post,

I have a Safale => S-04 , WB-06 , T-58, W-34/70
Mangrove Jacks Craft Series MO7 British Ale,
Danstar BRY 97 American West Coast Ale Yeast

Draught is an Ale or Lager?

Which would you recommend?

What is the main difference between these and kit yeast, I have to keep these in the fridge...

There is little info on how to prepare, some are ready-to-pitch (ie Saf US-05 )others not..?
(sorry see pdfs on Fermentis now - edit)

Thanks
..