White Labs or Wyeast

[Westco]

I have heard many times on the Brewing Network Jamil and the other brewers state that both company's WL and Wyeast make great products and he would use either one. It seems like they always use White Labs over Wyeast. I was thinking about the pro's and con's of both

WL-Cool almost indestructible vial that you can reuse for water salts ETC.

Wyeast-Activater, makes sure your yeast get active before you pitch into starter/wert, you can also tell somewhat how viable they are by the amount of time it takes for the package to swell.

UV and O2 barrier package-Pretty obvious the benefits of this.

This might be small addition but Wyeast prints the exact date which the yeast was made. I could only find a "use before" date on the White labs vial which was about 3 months from the date i purchased it. So judging the yeasts viability would be hard.


If I remember correctly both WL and Wyeast have the same amount of yeast cells.

So it seems to me that Wyeast has a bit of a edge when it comes to their yeast. Maybe its just cause I am partial beings its made 10 miles from my house. I would think that the brew casters would see a advantage in this yeast and would use it but they don't. Is there something I am missing? Does WL have any other benefits? If they don't I am still curious as to why the brew casters choose it over Wyeast.

[Otter]

I think they mainly talk about using White Labs, because Morebeer only sells White Labs and the Whites are friends of the show.

White Labs best before date is calculated as 4 months from the date of manufacture. If my vial says best before December, I know it was made in August.

I've used Wyeast once and the pack didn't swell up after activation. I've used White Labs exclusively for the last few years, because I've never had a problem with their yeast. I make starters for all my beers, so I know whether it's viable or not before pitching.

I also like that I can send in 10 vials and get free yeast.

[Elbone]

I use WL because that's what my LHBS carries. I've never had any problem with it. The activator packs offer me no advantage because I always make a starter anyway.

That being said, If Wyeast were that local to me, I'd definitely use Wyeast and I'd be thrilled because I'd know my yeast was fresh and in good condition.

Compared to what was available to us 15 or 20 years ago, both products are a quantum leap in quality.

[HopRunner]

It seems that homebrew shops carry one or the other. Maybe they don't have the volume necessary to carry both? I dunno. My HBS carries White Labs so that is what I mostly use. I am able to special order Wyeast packets so I use them when I want to try something that White Labs doesn't produce or I just to try a "different" London yeast or whatever...

I have had equal success with both companies. However I am saving up for White Labs Denim Shirt.

[Grist Licker]

I find the White Labs vial to be easier to use and less messy. I also like that I can see the yeast in there, for no other reason than it's neat. I live in Oregon now and that's Wyeast territory for sure. I will probably use Wyeast nearly every time now because of the freshness.

I regard both products as equally high in quality as far as the yeast itself is concerned.

[Dirk McLargeHuge]

My LHBS carries both. I tend to use White Labs because I can turn in the vials for the Beer books via the customer club. But I always follow Bub's advice when it comes to Wyeast 3068.

[ApresSkiBrewer]

I use both. Whatever I can get my hands on in the Northeast... Love them both.

[Blowmax10]

I like the smack pack and that is mostly what i use

But, I like the white labs "vial' because I know it is a 47 gram Preform meant for a 2 liter bottle

I used to run 150 thousand per day back in my cold set days