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Author Topic: Denny's Favorite 50  (Read 22663 times)

Offline 1vertical

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Denny's Favorite 50
« on: April 25, 2011, 11:10:48 pm »
Well I got this based upon your Logo...so how about
a little run down on this strain.

Planning a BVIP and thought this would be a shoe in for
a great yeast to utilize....

How did you come upon this yeast?
How come it is your favorite?
How did it manage to get to commercial status?

I hope you don't mind telling us the story...Please, Denny.... ::)
« Last Edit: April 26, 2011, 09:48:27 am by 1vertical »
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Offline denny

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Re: Denny's Favorite
« Reply #1 on: April 26, 2011, 09:34:09 am »
Well I got this based upon your Logo...so how about
a little run down on this strain.

Planning a BVIP and thought this would be a shoe in for
a great yeast to utilize....

How did you come upon this yeast?
How come it is your favorite?
How did it manage to get to commercial status?

I hope you don't mind telling us the story...Please, Denny.... ::)

OK, kids, here's yer bedtime story...

Many years ago I decided to try my hand at yeast ranching.  I bought a kit of supplies and some slants from a company by the name of Brewtek, which I later found was run by the inimitable Maribeth Raines.  I picked slants at random and one was called CL-50 Cal. brewpub yeast (or something like that).  I had just finished developing my Rye IPA recipe and had been using WY1272 for it.  I tried the CL-50 and found that it gave the beer a wonderful silky mouthfeel which really complemented the other aspects of the beer.  I started using it as my base AM. ale yeast in lieu of 1272 and 1056.  I also started talking the yeast up online in the few brewing discussions that were around back then (primarily rec.crafts.brewing for you old timers).  A few people started buying slants and many more wanted to see it come put in a larger, more common homebrew format.   Meanwhile, back at the ranch (who doesn't love saying that?), MB had shut down Brewtek and sold the stock to a company in CO.  Don't recall the name, but I ordered CL-50 from them a few times.  I saw it going downhill every time I got some, and IIRC that store eventually sold the library to someone else.  I had met and begun talking to Dave Logsdon, then owner of Wyeast, about them releasing it commercially so more people would have access to it, but Dave was reluctant as long as someone else had the strain.  Some kinda BS about ethics, ya know....;) .  I ordered a couple more slants from whoever had it back then just before they vanished.  When Dave found out it was no longer available, we arranged for Wyeast to get a sample from my yeast bank.  They went back and forth on what to call it (I suggested "Noti Ale yeast") and finally informed me it was going to be called "Denny's Favorite 50".  Since I make largely Am. style beers, it's still my go to yeast for almost all of them.  It makes a great BVIP and I really like it in my Noti Brown Ale recipe also (Am. brown ale).

So there you have it.  I feel like I'm a really lucky guy to have had such great honors as a homebrewer....the yeast, the GC, the great friends I've made.
Life begins at 60.....1.060, that is!

www.dennybrew.com

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Offline 1vertical

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Re: Denny's Favorite
« Reply #2 on: April 26, 2011, 09:48:05 am »
Good Story Denny....Thank you for sharing that.  I have a Denny's Fav 50 smack pack in the fridge
and the ingredients enroute to my location to put together an attempt at BVIP...and
I thought I would make it authentic using your recipe AND your namesake Yeast.

Even got an Oak Spiral to infuse oak flavors....  I am thinking about the Bourbon aspect and my goto is
the Purple Sack Crown...because it is blended, well rounded, mellow and smooth....

A fine is a tax for doing wrong. A tax is a fine for doing well.

Offline Hokerer

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Re: Denny's Favorite 50
« Reply #3 on: April 26, 2011, 09:55:19 am »
and there's the fun Wyeast had with the numbering.  Back when it was VSS or whatever, wasn't it called WY2450 and then they eventually changed it to WY1450 - muy confusing.
Joe

Offline denny

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Re: Denny's Favorite
« Reply #4 on: April 26, 2011, 10:22:08 am »
Even got an Oak Spiral to infuse oak flavors....  I am thinking about the Bourbon aspect and my goto is
the Purple Sack Crown...because it is blended, well rounded, mellow and smooth....



I'm not a big fan of oaked beers, but I've tasted versions of the BVIP on oak that have been really good.  Don't worry too much about the bourbon...it's a subtle flavoring, not a major component, so as long as it's a good bourbon it doesn't have to be a great bourbon.
Life begins at 60.....1.060, that is!

www.dennybrew.com

The best, sharpest, funniest, weirdest and most knowledgable minds in home brewing contribute on the AHA forum. - Alewyfe

"The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, and wiser people so full of doubts." - Bertrand Russell

Offline denny

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Re: Denny's Favorite 50
« Reply #5 on: April 26, 2011, 10:22:54 am »
and there's the fun Wyeast had with the numbering.  Back when it was VSS or whatever, wasn't it called WY2450 and then they eventually changed it to WY1450 - muy confusing.

Yeah, they changed their whole numbering system to be more consistent.  It was a PITA at first, but it makes sense.
Life begins at 60.....1.060, that is!

www.dennybrew.com

The best, sharpest, funniest, weirdest and most knowledgable minds in home brewing contribute on the AHA forum. - Alewyfe

"The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, and wiser people so full of doubts." - Bertrand Russell

Offline bluesman

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Re: Denny's Favorite 50
« Reply #6 on: April 26, 2011, 10:30:39 am »
I have a jar of Denny's Fav 50 slurry from last October that I need to revive. I think it's a second gen slurry.

Any thoughts on what would be best to brew with it Denny?
Ron Price

Offline denny

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Re: Denny's Favorite 50
« Reply #7 on: April 26, 2011, 10:32:18 am »
Any thoughts on what would be best to brew with it Denny?

My most common brews with it are Rye IPA (or about any AIPA or APA), Am. brown ale (Noti brown recipe), porter (Nick Danger porter recipe), or BVIP.
Life begins at 60.....1.060, that is!

www.dennybrew.com

The best, sharpest, funniest, weirdest and most knowledgable minds in home brewing contribute on the AHA forum. - Alewyfe

"The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, and wiser people so full of doubts." - Bertrand Russell

Offline ghumphrey

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Re: Denny's Favorite 50
« Reply #8 on: April 26, 2011, 11:53:15 am »
Sorry for the NOOB question - what does BVIP stand for? I've been trying to work it out for a few minutes now and my caffeine-starved brain isn't coming up with anything that I can say in mixed company...

Offline tygo

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Re: Denny's Favorite 50
« Reply #9 on: April 26, 2011, 11:55:18 am »
Sorry for the NOOB question - what does BVIP stand for? I've been trying to work it out for a few minutes now and my caffeine-starved brain isn't coming up with anything that I can say in mixed company...

Bourbon Vanilla Imperial Porter

http://wiki.homebrewersassociation.org/BourbonVanillaImperialPorter
Clint
Wort Hogs

Offline timberati

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Re: Denny's Favorite 50
« Reply #10 on: April 26, 2011, 12:43:22 pm »
My most common brews with it are Rye IPA (or about any AIPA or APA), Am. brown ale (Noti brown recipe), porter (Nick Danger porter recipe), or BVIP.
Nick Danger, Third Eye has a beer named after him? Any other Firesign Theater themed brews? Lt Bradshaw Blonde Vice, perhaps? Rocky Rococo Red maybe?
Cervesariis Feliciter
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Offline denny

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Re: Denny's Favorite 50
« Reply #11 on: April 26, 2011, 12:45:24 pm »
My most common brews with it are Rye IPA (or about any AIPA or APA), Am. brown ale (Noti brown recipe), porter (Nick Danger porter recipe), or BVIP.
Nick Danger, Third Eye has a beer named after him? Any other Firesign Theater themed brews? Lt Bradshaw Blonde Vice, perhaps? Rocky Rococo Red maybe?

Well, it's actually named after one of my cats, but _he's_ named after Firesign Theater's Nick Danger!  I like your suggestions!
Life begins at 60.....1.060, that is!

www.dennybrew.com

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"The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, and wiser people so full of doubts." - Bertrand Russell

Offline timberati

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Re: Denny's Favorite 50
« Reply #12 on: April 26, 2011, 01:34:27 pm »
Rocky Rococo Red pairs well with pickles. (those not familiar with why pickles pair well must find a copy of Nick Danger, Third Eye on the Firesign Theater's Shoes for Industry LP/CD)
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Offline jeffy

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Re: Denny's Favorite 50
« Reply #13 on: April 26, 2011, 01:50:04 pm »

Don't Crush That Dwarf Hand Me The Pliers
May not be a good beer name, but it is a good album name.
Jeff Gladish, Tampa (989.3, 175.1 Apparent Rennarian)
Homebrewing since 1990
AHA member since 1991, now a lifetime member
BJCP judge since 1995

Offline dannyjed

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Re: Denny's Favorite 50
« Reply #14 on: April 26, 2011, 02:14:38 pm »
This yeast strain is great in a porter.  I haven't found any that I like as much as this in my porter and of course it's great in AIPA and APA.
Dan Chisholm