Safale W-68 Weihenstephan strain

[geordie]

Hi Everyone,

First post here. I was wondering if anyone has any updated information on the elusive W-68 dry weizen strain that was slated for release a while back. I brew a lot of weizen but the only place that I can get yeast from requires that I buy 8 vials at a time. Since the shelf life of the WLP300 is not fantastic, its much easier for me to use the dried yeast. I understand that there was a problem with getting the W-68 to dry properly but if anyone has an update, it would be appreciated.

Cheers and thanks in advance,

Steve

[bub]

hate to be nosy but where do you live that you gotta buy 8 vials?
BUB

[geordie]

Near Toronto, Ontario. The only place I can get the liquid yeast in this area requires that you order 8 vials at a time. I get it direct from Scott Labs - hence the minimum order.

Cheers,

Steve

[bub]

Can you not order from Northern Brewer or B3?
If not I would say Bank it.... also I have stored 3068 Wyeast for 1 year in the fridge... it was ok with a starter.
BUB

[geordie]

If we order from the US, the brokerage fees and customs charges are pathetic. It gets pretty expensive per vial then. I get it for $8 CDN per vial direct from Scott Labs. Once the warmer weather hits, I will do an 8 vial order as I brew pretty much every weekend so it will go fast. For the occasional "winter" brew though, its a little more difficult. We're in -23C temperatures at the moment so running water outside is a non-starter......

Perhaps I'll try your method with the starter. TBH, I'm fairly new to brewing and have never actually used a starter. I've used both liquid vials and dry yeast which I've pitched directly. So far, its worked out great. I'll have to keep some wort back after the next brew to try that.

Cheers and thanks,

Steve

[Chris_J]

I've got a solution for you. http://www.skinaneybrewing.com/ They're based just outside of Ottawa and carry white labs. So you can place an order without having to order 8 vials and without having to pay brokerage fees.

edit: I forgot to add that if you've never made a starter then I really recommend you try it. Jamil has convinced me of the benefits. If it's the sanitation of the process that worries you, someone once told me that if my sanitation isn't good enough for a starter then how can it be good enough for a whole batch of beer? I think that's a great point and look forward to hearing about your results.

[geordie]

Here's the link to the spec sheet.

http://www.fermentis.com/FO/EN/pdf/SafbrewW-68.pdf

Heard from a guy at Fermentis that they are extremely close to a release now..........should be an interesting product!!

Cheers,

Steve