[Silver_Is_Money]

I've generally had decent success with the Fermentis lager yeasts mentioned in the subject line (I've yet to try S-23), but my LHBS has them priced in the mid $8's per pack at present, whereas Label Peelers presently has Diamond Lager on sale at $4.97 per pack combined with free shipping.  I have a Dortmunder Export on deck and was going to use S-189, but I always pitch 2 packs, and the $4.97 with free shipping price for the Diamond got my attention at only $9.94 for two packs.  And now I'm having second thoughts.  I've never used the Lallemand lager yeast.  Should I bite the bullet and buy the S-189, or go with the Diamond?

[dmtaylor]

I haven't used Diamond yet myself, but have heard very good things about it.  I will be trying it soon.

[hopfenundmalz]

Diamond is much like 34/70, it might clear a little better. I had a Pils split between S-189 and Diamond. Diamond was better in the Pils. I had a Rauchbier split S-189 and 34/70. Preferred the S-189 in that beer style as the malt flavor come through more, and it had better mouth feel.

S-189 better for malty
Diamond 34/70 better for a dry finish.

[purduekenn]

I used Diamond Lager yeast this summer to brew a Helles and it turned out great. It started a bit slower than 34/70 but it produced a nice beer. I'll brew a Munich Dunkel with S189 I think its better for malty beers too.

[tommymorris]

I have used Diamond Lager yeast several times. I like it. It is similar to 34/70 which I think works well in all Pilsner type beers.

[Ellismr]

If you’re not opposed to paying for shipping Hop craft supply in Michigan still sells fermentis products for the $4.99 each and you can pick up a lot of stuff there and they’re shipping out of state less than 25 pounds is $8 for priority mail. 

I have used the diamond Lager strain and it is very similar to 30/70.  I use the S 23 strain in lager that is a little more malt forward such as a Bock, Helles, or dunkel. 

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[purduekenn]

RiteBrew.com in Wisconsin has 34/70 for $4.79 and their first class shipping is fair. They have good prices. I recently ordered grain and other items and I got my order delivered to Kentucky in 3 days!

[erockrph]

RiteBrew.com in Wisconsin has 34/70 for $4.79 and their first class shipping is fair. They have good prices. I recently ordered grain and other items and I got my order delivered to Kentucky in 3 days!

I just discovered them myself and placed my first order with them today. It was shipped within a couple of hours. They seem to have a good selection and good prices as well. Shipping wasn't free, but it was very reasonable given the lower prices they charged. I saw a Grainfather conical in their clearance section for $300

Back to the original post, I haven't used Diamond yet, but I have some in my fridge that I will be using for my spring lagers. I like both 34/70 and S-189 quite a bit. I've started using 34/70 for pressurized fermentations, and it makes a clean beer fast. My only issue is that it doesn't clear as quickly as I'd like. If Diamond performs as well as 34/70, but drops bright quicker, then it will likely become my go-to lager yeast.

[hopfenundmalz]

If you’re not opposed to paying for shipping Hop craft supply in Michigan still sells fermentis products for the $4.99 each and you can pick up a lot of stuff there and they’re shipping out of state less than 25 pounds is $8 for priority mail. 

I have used the diamond Lager strain and it is very similar to 30/70.  I use the S 23 strain in lager that is a little more malt forward such as a Bock, Helles, or dunkel. 

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I will also vouch for Hop Craft. They have a good selection of grains, too, if I want something Adventures doesn't handle. Think old style hardware store vs a big box store (stuff has to move, can't take up space). Was $5 in state shipping for me.

[Village Taphouse]

Ritebrew is excellent.

Last summer I made a bunch of lagers with the Diamond yeast.  I thought it made very good beers.  I have also used S-189 which I consider to have less character than Diamond... the beers were "cleaner" for better or worse.  I also used to keep S-23 around for emergencies and I once made an English Ale where I was going to use harvested 1028 but the prior beer was somehow contaminated so now I had English Ale wort but no yeast so... I used S-23 and made an English Lager!    That was quite a few years ago and I have no recollection about the yeast itself other than it saved my batch.  Also, I love 2124 but I have never used 34/70 which is a supposed to be a dry version of 2124.  If Diamond is similar to 34/70 then that's close enough for me.  I just received a packet of Diamond to keep onhand and also a pack of BRY-97 since I have never tried it. 

[denny]

Ritebrew is excellent.

Last summer I made a bunch of lagers with the Diamond yeast.  I thought it made very good beers.  I have also used S-189 which I consider to have less character than Diamond... the beers were "cleaner" for better or worse.  I also used to keep S-23 around for emergencies and I once made an English Ale where I was going to use harvested 1028 but the prior beer was somehow contaminated so now I had English Ale wort but no yeast so... I used S-23 and made an English Lager!    That was quite a few years ago and I have no recollection about the yeast itself other than it saved my batch.  Also, I love 2124 but I have never used 34/70 which is a supposed to be a dry version of 2124.  If Diamond is similar to 34/70 then that's close enough for me.  I just received a packet of Diamond to keep onhand and also a pack of BRY-97 since I have never tried it.

I love BRY97.  It's become my American gop to when I make large batches, so I din't have to make multiple starters.

Many years ago Chumley, who posts here sometimes, sent me a bottle of my BVIP recipe made with S-23.  He knew I hated it.  In that beer, it was fantastic.  He got me.

[Saccharomyces]

I just purchased a bunch of dry yeast from RiteBrew in preparation for finally finishing my new brew house.  What is holding me back is that I am in "pay as I go" mode, which means that my brew house build is being funded out of monthly discretionary income.  I still need to purchase a keg refrigerator, a fermentation chamber, and a 240V induction cook top.  I have my eye on a new 3500W induction cook top by Eurodib called the SWI3500.  It is a monster compared to current 240VAC offerings. The induction hob is large enough for a 14" wide kettle to side directly on the glass.  It has five cooling fans.  Most of the other 3500W cook tops have two cooling fans.

[Village Taphouse]

Ritebrew is excellent.

Last summer I made a bunch of lagers with the Diamond yeast.  I thought it made very good beers.  I have also used S-189 which I consider to have less character than Diamond... the beers were "cleaner" for better or worse.  I also used to keep S-23 around for emergencies and I once made an English Ale where I was going to use harvested 1028 but the prior beer was somehow contaminated so now I had English Ale wort but no yeast so... I used S-23 and made an English Lager!    That was quite a few years ago and I have no recollection about the yeast itself other than it saved my batch.  Also, I love 2124 but I have never used 34/70 which is a supposed to be a dry version of 2124.  If Diamond is similar to 34/70 then that's close enough for me.  I just received a packet of Diamond to keep onhand and also a pack of BRY-97 since I have never tried it.

I love BRY97.  It's become my American gop to when I make large batches, so I din't have to make multiple starters.

Many years ago Chumley, who posts here sometimes, sent me a bottle of my BVIP recipe made with S-23.  He knew I hated it.  In that beer, it was fantastic.  He got me.

I can't remember where I was reading about BRY-97 (maybe here) but there seemed to be a lot of good news.  When I make ales (which might be less than 25% of the time), I use a lot of 1056, White Labs 01 and the occasional English strain (I have 1968 on order now) so BRY-97 seemed like a logical choice for a dry ale yeast.  Denny IIRC, you and I both dislike US-05.  I have gotten that peachy-apricot character from it and I swore never again so that's another sign that BRY-97 might be a good choice. 

[Iliff Ave]

I have started pitching 1 pack each of 189 and 34/70 in my lagers.

[hopfenundmalz]

I have started pitching 1 pack each of 189 and 34/70 in my lagers.

I had thought about that, how do you like it?