Has anyone seen any of the "next gen" PurePitch packaging at their LHBS? https://www.whitelabs.com/ppnghb?id=77 They contain double the number of cells as the old/current packs. And guess what...they are touted as suitable for 5 gallon batches, just like the ones with half the cells were. (!) Seems like maybe a little bit of an admission that the 100B cell packs were a bit* light for many** 5 gallon worts. And they do give the URL for their yeast calculator. Progress. *understatement **most
I have not visited my LHBS recently but I can report that MoreBeer lists the new packaging on their website: “WLP001 California Ale Yeast® | PurePitch® Next Generation | White Labs Yeast WLP001NG Be the first to write a review | Ask a Question $15.99” Or you could buy the ‘old’ package for $10.99. In correspondence with another homebrewer I discussed a video podcast with Chris White related to this new packaging and its rollout: “I found the entire video a worthwhile watch but the Next Generation topic starts around the 12:00 mark. A few topics worth highlighting: Next Generation product rollout Only WLP001 is available now in the Next Generation packaging. Chris made mention that other strains will be available in the near future but it sorta sounds like he is waiting until his customers (e.g., businesses like MoreBeer) request that White Labs produce product in the Next Generation packaging. I was a little surprised that he is taking this specific business tact, I was just expecting that he would transition in this packaging akin to the past (e.g., vials -> PurePitch packaging). If Next Generation is improved packaging, why wouldn’t he just transition based upon his own volition? Multiuse since the package has a cap There was discussion that with the cap this new packaging would permit the users to reuse the yeast, for example to pitch into multiple small batches. While I can see this I personally would be concerned about this sort of practice from a contamination/oxygen ingress perspective. I would have a preference to just use all of the product once opened since I would be concerned that once it was opened the product would be ‘compromised’. Maybe I am just being overly cautious in my thinking here?” Cheers!
For me I usually by a can of proper starter with the yeast pack to make a starter so it’s not a cost savings but a process reduction to go this route. I like it. Asheville N.C. Is only a couple hours drive and White labs has an awesome brewery/restaurant at their production facility. Need to go investigate this more
In case anyone is near by this is their current beer and food menu. I love how they do split batches with 2 different yeast. It’s fun to get a flight and try them all.
I would encourage you to do so. I posted about my visit last February in a past thread: "During our visit I obtained four tasters: two of a Brown Ale and two of a Schwarzbier brewed using differing yeasts. Brown Ales • WLP001 California Ale Yeast® Caramelized Brown Sugar | Nutty Winter Fruit ABV: 5.4% • WLP037 Yorkshire Square Ale Yeast Bruised Apple | Bready | Toffee ABV: 5.1% I much preferred the Brown Ale brewed with WLP037 Schwarzbiers • WLP925 High Pressure Lager Yeast Toast | Cacao Powder | Clean • WLP838 Southern German Lager Yeast I preferred the Schwarbier fermented with WLP838. I enjoyed my visit to the White Labs taproom." Cheers!
We have been there before as well. I was thinking to go and check out the new pure pitch in the big yeast fridge they have. Also to hit up Burial brewery lol
A friend who lives near Ashville posted about this package change a while ago. He got some when it was handed out during the brew club meeting. The screw cap is a nice feature, no scissors needed.
Thats pretty neat that they have a brew pub. Really gotta take that Asheville trip I have been talking about or years.
The 'challenge' of visiting Asheville from a beer tasting experience is choosing where to visit. There are just so many options! If you are willing to travel outside of Asheville I would strongly encourage a visit, including a tour, to Sierra Nevada in Mills River, NC. That brewery is absolutely beautiful and they have 'special' beers pouring in their tasting room (and the food is excellent as well). Cheers!
There's on in San Diego as well, if you're ever out there. Wanted to visit when I was there last month, but they were closed on the only day I was free. Looking at the draft lists, though, I was kinda disappointed by how few Belgian-style beers there were. I get that they need to move beer as much as any other brewery, and Belgian styles aren't as hot as they used to be, but I think that it would be neat to check out the same wort fermented with, say, 400, 500, and 565.
They have a Belgian Wit(s) on tap right now at the Asheville location: “CA-75 WIT with Juniper Berry & Peppercorn ● WLP400 - ABV: 6.7% - $7 (16oz) Tasting Notes: Orange Zest | Lemon Zest ● WLP815 - ABV: 6.1% - $7 (16oz) Tasting Notes: Pepper| Vanilla” Cheers!
A wit yeast and a lager yeast is apples and oranges. I was more thinking of comparing, if not apples to apples, apples to pears.
