Pumpkinman said:Tom,
I've seen a bunch of Strawberry mead recipes that called for 71B-1122, I don't think that the fact that it converts malic is a big concern with a berry mead.
Here is a good read on making mead and melomel, and a few recipes that all call for using Lalvin 71B-1122, click here, I do understand that it is also a personal preference, but a good portion of the strawberry mead/melomel recipes that I've come across all call for this yeast. some call for Liquid mead yeast, but I've seen a bunch of posts stating problems with the Liquid mead yeasts.
Tom, Like you, I have been experimenting with yeasts, even blending yeasts, my hat is off to you for taking the time to find what works best!
Yeast is such an important part of the wine making and brewing process, I cringe when hear people say that the type of yeast doesn't matter!
After talking to a few professional winemakers, it became apparent that I needed to start paying more attention to yeasts, I've been researching various yeasts and using different yeasts in identical recipes to see if there was a difference.
The biggest indicator of the impact a specific yeast can have on a wine was on a batch of Amarone.
I made a batch with 71B -1122 trying to bring out the fruit and at the same time trying to tame the acidity associated with Amarone, the result so far is one of the best wines that I've tasted, my wife absolutely enjoys it as well.
It is a real pleasant wine, very much full bodied, rich full mouth feel, with a nice amount of fruit and a delicate sweetness that was brought out after oaking it with medium toasted french oak chips, long lasting, just a great wine.
Being the data freak that i am, I logged everything that I did, no matter how minute, in the Brew Trax program.
I decided that I wanted to make another batch, I knew this would go fast once we start to drink it.
This time I decided to try a more traditional Amarone and use a yeast that was developed for big bold red wines such as Brunello, so I purchased Lalvin BM45. At the last minute I decided that I wanted to blend the two yeasts, I wanted to recreate at least in part the first batch while testing the more traditional yeast.
This batch of Amarone is much, and I emphasize - Much more of a traditional Amarone, it tastes almost identical to a $65.00 bottle of Amarone that I bought recently (i'll never spend that much on a bottle again) as a treat to go with a nice dinner, with the exception that it has a minor fruit and sweetness.
That said.. I am fairly new as well, and I think that a lot of people will use EC-1118 because it may come with a kit they have made, or a LHBS will give new wine makers that particular yeast because it is fool proof, it can ferment a brick...lol
Any way, to answer harmony24 question, I would still use the 71B-1122 yeast.
Tom
Enter your email address to join: