WL 550 Belgian Ale vs WYEAST 3787 Trappist High Gravity for a tripel?

[yeastmaster]

I have two belgian yeasts in my stable, WL 550 Belgian Ale and WYEAST 3787 Trappist High Gravity.  I am thinking about brewing a tripel and wonder if anyone has an opinion about which would be a better yeast for a tripel.  I'm might brew a dark quadrupel off the yeast cake of the tripel
 

[uthristy]

Easy, split the batch and try both.

I like the Achouffe family of yeast (wlp550 - wyeast 3522)

[gordonstrong]

I use 3787 for my tripels.  It's Westmalle's yeast.

[dbarber]

3787 makes a great tripel....mine took bronze at the NHC last year.  I prefer to use 550 in a belgian golden stong.

[yeastmaster]

Thanks, I started a 3787 starter going last night.  Currently I have a dubbel going with some 550 which is smelling pretty promising so far

[beveragebob]

I used a blend of WLP500 and 550 for a Tripel I have on tap right now and it's lovely. Belgian brewers use yeast like us Americans use hops. Of course the Trappist guys usually stick to their own yeast but, it's not a hobby for them. We have fun!

[yeastmaster]

I like the idea of doing a blend and will have to try that at some point

[majorvices]

Thanks, I started a 3787 starter going last night.  Currently I have a dubbel going with some 550 which is smelling pretty promising so far

I love the Westmalle Strain in my tripel (WLP530 on the White Labs side)- Westmalle was the first tripel after all, but I also really the WLP550 Achouffe strain as well. Don't know that I have a hands down favorite for that. The 550 is a little more bubble gum/banana, the 530 is cleaner. But I definitely prefer the WLP530 in my dubbels for the same reason.

[uthristy]

Like I said its best to do a side by side test to see what yeast YOU like, just sayin

Westmalle I like for darker beers but anything yellow its the Achouffe family of yeast>
wlp550 - wyeast 3522 -  Lupulus Blond)

[yeastmaster]

Thanks

[gordonstrong]

Blending is fine but I'd do it with split batches and blend post-fermentation. Yeast can wind up out-competing each other.

My second favorite tripel yeast is WLP510 Bastogne (Orval). That's what La Rulles uses.

[SiameseMoose]

If you're interested in blending I highly recommend White Labs 575 Belgian Blend. It has three yeasts in it, allegedly 500, 530, and 550, but not at 1:1:1. I've made numerous fine beers with that blend.