[Saccharomyces]

Has anyone used this stain?  K-87 is allegedly the same strain as Wyeast 1007, which is a true top-cropper. It would be nice to find a dry true top-cropper.

[denny]

Has anyone used this stain?  K-87 is allegedly the same strain as Wyeast 1007, which is a true top-cropper. It would be nice to find a dry true top-cropper.

They are worlds apart IMO. K97 isn't nearly as crisp and clean IME.

[Megary]

I got a pile of sulfur in a Cream Ale fermented at 68F the only time I ever used it.  It took forever to clear and lose the aroma.  I do think the beer had a crisp bite though. That was one pack in a 3 gal. batch.

I’d be hard pressed to use it again.

[Iliff Ave]

I didn’t like it the few times I used it. Got a strange tartness from it.

[tommymorris]

I liked K-97 in an American Wheat beer except it cleared a bit faster than WY1010. Otherwise the taste was similar.

I haven’t liked K-97 in anything else.

[dmtaylor]

Has anyone used this stain?  K-87 is allegedly the same strain as Wyeast 1007, which is a true top-cropper. It would be nice to find a dry true top-cropper.

They are worlds apart IMO. K97 isn't nearly as crisp and clean IME.

I wouldn't go so far as to say "worlds apart".  They are very similar, though I found K-97 takes an even longer time to clear than 1007, and even after clearing still tastes a little yeasty and with the odd tartness that others agree on.  I do think 1007 is the superior product.  But they act in much the same ways, krausen that won't fall for a long time, etc.  Similar to 2565 in that respect.

[Steve Ruch]

I've used it in alt and American wheat beer. I've been happy with the results.
I'm currently drinking a batch of wild blackberry wheat beer that was fermented with it.

[Descardeci]

Has anyone used this stain?  K-87 is allegedly the same strain as Wyeast 1007, which is a true top-cropper. It would be nice to find a dry true top-cropper.

Maybe is not the same, but they have something in common, and it is a true top-cropper, for me this one is more similar to kolsch strain than the 1007, sadly, but otherwise is a beautiful yeast, only use this on my cream ale and kolschs.

[fredthecat]

i did some research recently and ordered some k-97. i plan to just do the obvious and make an alt and see how it tastes before doing anything else.


from what i read and can rememeber now:

complaints:
-slight "tart" flavour
-very slow to clear (I know someone here said the opposite, but i saw quite a few people saying it remained hazy for a long time)
-it is a "true top cropper" resulting in messy carboys, and someone suggested that removing the krausen decreases a perceived astringency. others said the astringency fades with time

positives:
-can make really clean tasting beers, basically pseudo-lager
-plenty of positive reviews with no one really saying "it's just not that great" like you hear about some other yeasts (S-04 and nottingham)

[denny]

Well, here ya go...it's just not that great.  Its not bad, but I don't think I'd call it anywhere near clean.  IMO your have far better luck with BRY97, even for  a psuedo lager.

[fredthecat]

do you think its appropriate for an alt though?

it seems some of the kolsch/alt labeled yeasts, people say aren't really accurate

[denny]

do you think its appropriate for an alt though?

it seems some of the kolsch/alt labeled yeasts, people say aren't really accurate

Nope.  Not crisp enough. BRY97 would be far better for alt if you want to stay with dry yeast.

[fredthecat]

im doing k-97 in about a month or two. what do you think are appropriate styles to go with it?

it sounds more like a kind of alternative ale profile, ~highly attenuating ale, somewhere between english and belgian?

[denny]

im doing k-97 in about a month or two. what do you think are appropriate styles to go with it?

it sounds more like a kind of alternative ale profile, ~highly attenuating ale, somewhere between english and belgian?

Nothing Belgian about it.  Maybe suitable for British styles.  IIRC it's kind of bready.

[dmtaylor]

Well, here ya go...it's just not that great.  Its not bad, but I don't think I'd call it anywhere near clean.  IMO your have far better luck with BRY97, even for  a psuedo lager.

I agree.  I've actually had less than stellar results with many dried yeasts, or at least they are all relatively hit & miss compared with liquid strains.  Just being perfectly honest.

The exceptions to this in my experience, so far, are S-189 and London ESB.  Both make a very clean beer (well S-189 actually *is* a lager after all!), better than any of the others.  Yeah yeah I know London should have esters....... except that in real life, it doesn't!

EDIT: Oh yeah, and W-34/70 is no slouch either, but I think S-189 is a little better.

Meanwhile I don't think I'll use K-97 ever again.  It just.... isn't great.