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Author Topic: Bells Two Hearted yeast?  (Read 9566 times)

Offline babalu87

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Bells Two Hearted yeast?
« on: February 03, 2010, 10:51:26 am »
Has anyone cultured this yeast from the bottles?

Had my first one last night and now know what the hub-bub is all about.

Its one of the best IPA's I've ever had.

All Centennial hops correct?
Jeff

On draught:
IIPA, Stout, Hefeweizen, Hallertau Pale Ale, Bitter

Primary:
Hefeweizen,Berliner Weisse, Mead

Offline bluesman

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Re: Bells Two Hearted yeast?
« Reply #1 on: February 03, 2010, 10:57:38 am »
Yes it is an all Centennial IPA.
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Offline majorvices

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Re: Bells Two Hearted yeast?
« Reply #2 on: February 03, 2010, 11:03:27 am »
I like it on draft much better than in bottles, but it is a little sweeter than I care for in an IPA. Still its the best commercial IPA I can get 'round these parts so I drink it when I'm out if the place has it.

Offline nyakavt

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Re: Bells Two Hearted yeast?
« Reply #3 on: February 03, 2010, 11:08:15 am »
Has anyone cultured this yeast from the bottles?

Had my first one last night and now know what the hub-bub is all about.

Its one of the best IPA's I've ever had.

All Centennial hops correct?

I twice tried to culture this yeast, once from 2HA and once from Bell's Amber.  The 2HA never took off after a week, and the vial was knocked over so I dumped it.  The amber yeast took only a couple of days, probably had more to do with the freshness than anything else.  This yeast is a very strong attenuator and a good flocculator, a good overall yeast.  I think it has a slight english character to it, but I only fermented at one temp so I didn't do a lot of experimenting.  I brewed 6 or 7 beers last year with this yeast, it is pretty versatile.

I tried brewing a 2HA clone as well, IIRC it was 10 lbs of 2-row, 2 lbs vienna, 1/2 lb of c-20 or something.  I would drop the Vienna, it ended up making the beer a little more rich than the real thing.  A very simple grain bill of 2-row and 1/2-1 lb of light crystal is what I'll try next time.  It's definitely all centennial, I suggest lots of late hopping and some dry hopping.  Very good beer!

Offline babalu87

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Re: Bells Two Hearted yeast?
« Reply #4 on: February 03, 2010, 11:22:53 am »
Has anyone cultured this yeast from the bottles?

Had my first one last night and now know what the hub-bub is all about.

Its one of the best IPA's I've ever had.

All Centennial hops correct?

I twice tried to culture this yeast, once from 2HA and once from Bell's Amber.  The 2HA never took off after a week, and the vial was knocked over so I dumped it.  The amber yeast took only a couple of days, probably had more to do with the freshness than anything else.  This yeast is a very strong attenuator and a good flocculator, a good overall yeast. I think it has a slight english character to it, but I only fermented at one temp so I didn't do a lot of experimenting.  I brewed 6 or 7 beers last year with this yeast, it is pretty versatile.

I tried brewing a 2HA clone as well, IIRC it was 10 lbs of 2-row, 2 lbs vienna, 1/2 lb of c-20 or something.  I would drop the Vienna, it ended up making the beer a little more rich than the real thing.  A very simple grain bill of 2-row and 1/2-1 lb of light crystal is what I'll try next time.  It's definitely all centennial, I suggest lots of late hopping and some dry hopping.  Very good beer!

Thats what I was thinking as well, almost has a bit of a Ringwood thing going.
Got a six pack of the amber, maybe I'll just start by trying to grow that up first.

Thanks
Jeff

On draught:
IIPA, Stout, Hefeweizen, Hallertau Pale Ale, Bitter

Primary:
Hefeweizen,Berliner Weisse, Mead

Offline blatz

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Re: Bells Two Hearted yeast?
« Reply #5 on: February 03, 2010, 11:32:38 am »
FWIW, and I know this doesn't help you babalu, but Bell's recommends culturing from Oberon since its lower gravity.
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Offline a10t2

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Re: Bells Two Hearted yeast?
« Reply #6 on: February 03, 2010, 01:14:51 pm »
I used the yeast from THA a few times but dumped it because of a potential infection. 1272 makes a good sub IMHO - I actually prefer it, and can only tell them apart if they're side by side.

OG: 1.064
88% 2-row
8% Munich
4% Crystal 40

30 IBU Centennial at 60 min
1.4 oz at 15 min
1.4 oz at flameout
1.4 oz dry hop
Should be about 65 IBU total.
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Offline dean

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Re: Bells Two Hearted yeast?
« Reply #7 on: February 03, 2010, 03:41:27 pm »
Wow, I must have gotten an old six pack when I bought it because I couldn't taste or smell any hops in Bell's THA... just a very clean bitter.   :-\

Offline hopfenundmalz

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Re: Bells Two Hearted yeast?
« Reply #8 on: February 03, 2010, 03:50:20 pm »
The guys who remember when Bells was starting out in the 80's claimed that Larry said that the yeast was 1056.  If that is the case, it has taken on a house character.  I have had good results culturing the yeast from the Amber, to make a 2 Hearted clone.

All Centennial is the way to go.  Use a domestic 2-row, some vienna or munich, a little cara-pils, and add a little gypsum.
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Offline gail

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Re: Bells Two Hearted yeast?
« Reply #9 on: February 03, 2010, 04:24:12 pm »
Wow, I must have gotten an old six pack when I bought it because I couldn't taste or smell any hops in Bell's THA... just a very clean bitter.   :-\
Wow, Dean, I have never heard this said about THA.  You must have gotten some of the original bottles... ;)
Gail

Offline blatz

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Re: Bells Two Hearted yeast?
« Reply #10 on: February 03, 2010, 04:28:01 pm »
dean - as you have probably seen before, I am not shy about saying that THA is overrated.  However, I had a draft pint and shot the breeze with Larry over the weekend - its infinitely better on draft.  I think it might be in my Top 10 IPAs now, whereas before it was barely in the top 20.

so what I'm saying is try to get fresh bottles ;)
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Offline hopfenundmalz

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Re: Bells Two Hearted yeast?
« Reply #11 on: February 03, 2010, 04:45:08 pm »
Hey Blatz,

Years ago I had 2 Hearted on Cask at the brewery cafe, and that rocked my world!  Had it on tap many times since at the Eccentric Cafe, and it is good stuff.  Hope you had a good time talking to Larry Bell.
Jeff Rankert
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Offline a10t2

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Re: Bells Two Hearted yeast?
« Reply #12 on: February 03, 2010, 05:17:31 pm »
The guys who remember when Bells was starting out in the 80's claimed that Larry said that the yeast was 1056.

I've actually heard that directly from Larry Bell, and that the mutations over the years weren't deliberate, just the result of hundreds of generations of mutation.

He's a great guy. A friend and I showed up at the brewery instead of the tap room by mistake, and he actually gave us a tour personally.
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Offline hopfenundmalz

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Re: Bells Two Hearted yeast?
« Reply #13 on: February 03, 2010, 05:26:50 pm »
For a long time at the Kalamazoo brewery, they used open fermentors.  I know this to be true in the 1996 timeframe.

Now in Comstock they have the big conicals, and the yeast is what it is.  I think it is closer to 1056 than to many British ale yeasts.

I have talked to Larry many times over the last 20 years, a good guy for sure.

Jeff Rankert
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Offline gail

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Re: Bells Two Hearted yeast?
« Reply #14 on: February 03, 2010, 06:39:56 pm »
Hey Blatz,

Years ago I had 2 Hearted on Cask at the brewery cafe, and that rocked my world!  Had it on tap many times since at the Eccentric Cafe, and it is good stuff.  Hope you had a good time talking to Larry Bell.
One advantage of living in or near Michigan--or at least close enough to have THA fresh, clean and hoppy.  Sorry, Dean, you'll have to make the trip down to K'zoo if the stores around you don't turn over fast enough.  Nothing beats getting it from the source, though, as Jeff attests!
Gail
« Last Edit: February 03, 2010, 06:43:09 pm by gail »