Wyeast Discontinued Several Strains

[just-cj]

I just found out that Wyeast has discontinued several yeast strains, including my all-time favorite 1026 British Cask Ale. Here's the poop on substituting the discontinued strains with strains that are still available:

Hi Chris,
Thank you for your assistance with this! I hope you will help us get this information out onto the discussion boards and forums, as you've suggested.

Here is a listing of discontinued strains and our recommendations for substitution:

Discontinued --> Substitution
2002 Gambrinus --> 2000 Budvar
2247 European Lager --> 2042 Danish
2272 North American Lager --> 2035 American Lager
3763 Roeselare (on the current VSS list) --> 3278 Lambic
1026 British Cask Ale --> 1968 London ESB
3538 Leuven Pale Ale --> 3787 Trappist High Gravity
1882 Thames Valley II --> 1968 London ESB
3864 Canadian/Belgian Style (nearly certain to be on the next VSS list) --> 3787 Trappist High Gravity
3725 Biere de Garde (on the current VSS list) --> 3522 Ardennes
3726 Farmhouse Ale --> 3724 Saison
1768 English Special Bitter --> 1968 London ESB
3822 Dutch Castle --> 3463 Forbidden Fruit/3522 Ardennes

Thanks again for your business and support.

Jon B. Graber
Marketing and Sales Manager
Wyeast Laboratories
888.349.2004

[Spidey]

I've got a tripel that I'm making now with Wyeast 3864. Guess I'm obligated to make stocks of this yeast now. Bummer that they decided to discontinue several very good and unique strains.
Excuse my ignorance, but what is this "VSS list" he refers to?

[WichitaBrewer]

It doesn't seem that those changes are too dramatic, but it does appear that we're not going to be able to enjoy some of the subtlties of a few of the specialty yeast strains out there. Another reason I have to get better at getting my strains onto slants.

WichitaBrewer

[Bugeater]

I was at my LHBS the other day asking about Wy3725 and WY3726, both on the discontinued list. Of course he had neither. He showed me the list posted above and then showed me a flyer he just received advertising both. I had a Northern Brewer catalogue with me I had received the day before which was also promoting both yeasts. We were both wondering what is going on. Any ideas?

Wayne
Bugeater Brewing Company

[WichitaBrewer]

Hmm... I would assume 1 of 2 things could be going on.

Not likely: Wyeast is simply testing the waters to see how homebrewers will react to the change.

Mor likely: Northern Brewer still has stock, but when their stock runs out, it won't be repenished.

WichitaBrewer