Gert Strand - Prestige Yeast....anyone like it?

[John S]

I am wondering....anyone like Gert Strand Yeast?...or not like it? They make a Whiskey and Vodka yeast that I've heard good things about, but they don't offer much in the way of detailed information for their yeast. It seems they are all based on direct pitching into the mash, without any rehydration being done at all. If anyone is using it...are you rehydating it as per typical procedure? (100-104F for 20 minutes)

[delaware_phoenix]

I'll admit to trying it once a few years back when first exploring.

I think your money would be better spent on one of the many excellent yeasts from Lallemand, Lafort, White Labs, Wyeast, etc. Their web sites have much information about how of properly rehydrate yeast, create a starter, all that stuff.

Just because there's some kind of claim to produce 18% abv from the ferment doesn't mean anything. There's a lot more to the mashing and fermentation that getting the maximum ABV you can if you are making anything other than vodka.

[John S]

Thanks a bunch for the help!