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Author Topic: Yeast Strain and Beer Color  (Read 5573 times)

Offline skyler

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Yeast Strain and Beer Color
« on: January 19, 2017, 03:49:03 pm »
I made an IPA recently and split the batch into two fermenters, one with US-05 and one with Danstar London ESB. The color difference is startling. On the left is the ESB yeast. On the right, the US-05. How? And, fwiw, the US-05 (darker one) tastes hoppier and fresher, but both are fine beers.



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Offline bayareabrewer

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Re: Yeast Strain and Beer Color
« Reply #1 on: January 19, 2017, 04:48:24 pm »
umm, wow, that's almost unbelievable.

Offline HoosierBrew

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Re: Yeast Strain and Beer Color
« Reply #2 on: January 19, 2017, 05:01:02 pm »
There was an article in Zymurgy on this very thing a long time ago.A large batch of wort was split several ways and each container pitched with a different strain. Lots of difference in final beer color. I could be wrong but I believe the conclusion was that the varying yeasts affected color differently because of their effect on pH, some more so than others. pH is known to impact color. Again, IIRC.
Jon H.

Offline dls5492

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Re: Yeast Strain and Beer Color
« Reply #3 on: January 19, 2017, 05:48:34 pm »
Amazing and interesting.
David S.
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Offline klickitat jim

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Re: Yeast Strain and Beer Color
« Reply #4 on: January 19, 2017, 05:50:48 pm »
I'll take a pint of each, please. Oh and can I get a menu?

Offline bayareabrewer

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Re: Yeast Strain and Beer Color
« Reply #5 on: January 19, 2017, 05:55:26 pm »
I will sometimes split a ten gallon batch between 2 yeasts in separate carboys, and have never seen a color difference this drastic.

Offline skyler

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Re: Yeast Strain and Beer Color
« Reply #6 on: January 19, 2017, 06:08:48 pm »
Fwiw, the malt bill was 81% Canadian pilsner malt, 6% carahell, 6% dextrose, and 1% acid malt. The paler beer looks almost bmc gold (~4 SRM) and the other looks more like a standard IPA (~8 SRM).


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Offline ringtravis.tr

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Re: Yeast Strain and Beer Color
« Reply #7 on: January 22, 2017, 12:13:04 am »
Sooooo, this happened to me as well recently. IPA grain bill to achieve 9 SRM, 9 gallons of the same wort dived into two fermentors, with two different yeasts. The lighter one was a Belgium Abbey II WY1762 and the darker one was Irish ale 1084 WY1084.... not to style but I was bored and experimenting. I was just as surprised as you. I've only tasted it after 6 days and they both taste like green beer so I'll give it time.


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Offline neddles

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Re: Yeast Strain and Beer Color
« Reply #8 on: January 22, 2017, 08:32:06 am »
Sooooo, this happened to me as well recently. IPA grain bill to achieve 9 SRM, 9 gallons of the same wort dived into two fermentors, with two different yeasts. The lighter one was a Belgium Abbey II WY1762 and the darker one was Irish ale 1084 WY1084.... not to style but I was bored and experimenting. I was just as surprised as you. I've only tasted it after 6 days and they both taste like green beer so I'll give it time.


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I would guess that in your case (6 days since pitching) it is likely the result of the different flocculation properties of those two yeasts. Not saying they aren't (won't turn out to be) a different shade but waiting until you get them in the glass and clear of yeast and protein haze would be a better time for comparison. I think your just seeing a lot of 1762 in suspension.

Offline Kutaka

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Re: Yeast Strain and Beer Color
« Reply #9 on: January 22, 2017, 11:16:55 am »
S-05 produces an SRM that is consistent with the prediction of the recipe for me. 

Offline brewinhard

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Re: Yeast Strain and Beer Color
« Reply #10 on: January 22, 2017, 12:23:17 pm »
Wow!  That is very weird.

Offline ringtravis.tr

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Re: Yeast Strain and Beer Color
« Reply #11 on: January 22, 2017, 01:39:53 pm »
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[/quote]
I would guess that in your case (6 days since pitching) it is likely the result of the different flocculation properties of those two yeasts. Not saying they aren't (won't turn out to be) a different shade but waiting until you get them in the glass and clear of yeast and protein haze would be a better time for comparison. I think your just seeing a lot of 1762 in suspension.
[/quote]

Cool, yeah that makes sense. I'll give it some time and see, thanks!


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Offline PharmBrewer

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Re: Yeast Strain and Beer Color
« Reply #12 on: April 22, 2017, 09:29:06 pm »
I made an IPA recently and split the batch into two fermenters, one with US-05 and one with Danstar London ESB. The color difference is startling. On the left is the ESB yeast. On the right, the US-05. How? And, fwiw, the US-05 (darker one) tastes hoppier and fresher, but both are fine beers.



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This is really amazing.  Thanks for sharing!
Jim
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Offline brewinhard

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Re: Yeast Strain and Beer Color
« Reply #13 on: April 23, 2017, 01:00:21 pm »
I made an IPA recently and split the batch into two fermenters, one with US-05 and one with Danstar London ESB. The color difference is startling. On the left is the ESB yeast. On the right, the US-05. How? And, fwiw, the US-05 (darker one) tastes hoppier and fresher, but both are fine beers.



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Was one packaged differently than the other?  Just wondering if somehow it may have had more oxygen introduced to it leading to a darker finished product?

Offline skyler

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Re: Yeast Strain and Beer Color
« Reply #14 on: April 23, 2017, 01:11:26 pm »
I made an IPA recently and split the batch into two fermenters, one with US-05 and one with Danstar London ESB. The color difference is startling. On the left is the ESB yeast. On the right, the US-05. How? And, fwiw, the US-05 (darker one) tastes hoppier and fresher, but both are fine beers.



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Was one packaged differently than the other?  Just wondering if somehow it may have had more oxygen introduced to it leading to a darker finished product?
They were fermented at the same time, in identical fermenters (8 gal buckets) at the same temperature and were kegged one after the other in the same way (co2 purged keg). One thing of note is that the us-05 took longer to start, but they appeared to be finished at the same time.

100% of tasters (4 total) perceived the us-05 to taste fresher and hoppier, so I don't think oxidation is the culprit this time - though I believe the us-05 may have been mishandled prior to purchase.


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