Swap Danstar Nottingham Ale for S-04 in Milk stout

[MaryB]

I got a free extract kit on my last NB order... Chocolate Milk Stout. I am not a big stout drinker so not real familiar with the style and what works. I skipped ordering yeast because I thought I had 2 packets of s-04 on hand... nope all I have is Nottingham Ale and T-58... I know the T-58 is a no go(I got that for some warm weather brew experiments coming up) but will the Nottingham Ale fit this style okay?

 

[madscientist451]

Yes, it will work great on the stout.

 

[RM-MN]

Keep it cool during fermentation as Nottingham ferments fast and give off heat. When it ferments too fast it gives off flavors. I prefer my stouts to have plenty of time in the fermenter and plenty of time in the bottles so they smooth out the harsher flavors of the dark roasted grains.

 

[eadavis80]

Never used Notty in a stout. Only used Notty twice and when I used it - even when fermenting low - I did not like the beers. I will never use Notty again. I've done that kit several times and have used S-04 and WYeast 1098. Both worked out very well. I'd go with one of those - just buy new yeast if you can hold off on brew day. If not, good luck with the Notty - I know many have had better experiences with it than me.

 

[Weezy]

^ can you give more specifics on what you didn't like about the beers?

 

[RM-MN]

Never used Notty in a stout. Only used Notty twice and when I used it - even when fermenting low - I did not like the beers. I will never use Notty again. I've done that kit several times and have used S-04 and WYeast 1098. Both worked out very well. I'd go with one of those - just buy new yeast if you can hold off on brew day. If not, good luck with the Notty - I know many have had better experiences with it than me.

What do you consider "fermenting low"? I think it ferments clean at 57 to 60.

 

[kh54s10]

I have use Nottingham a few times. It has produce beers as good as with any other yeast I have used. I ferment most all my ales in the mid sixties so that is not a problem for me. In fact the first beer I ever did used Notty. I let it rise into the mid 70s the first day. Then, noticing my mistake, on advice I lowered the temperature with a swamp cooler left it in primary for 2 weeks then did a secondary for about 3 weeks. The beer might not have tasted like it should have but it was quite good.

 

[eadavis80]

I have use Nottingham a few times. It has produce beers as good as with any other yeast I have used. I ferment most all my ales in the mid sixties so that is not a problem for me. In fact the first beer I ever did used Notty. I let it rise into the mid 70s the first day. Then, noticing my mistake, on advice I lowered the temperature with a swamp cooler left it in primary for 2 weeks then did a secondary for about 3 weeks. The beer might not have tasted like it should have but it was quite good.

Good question - for me, keeping it between 60-62 is "low." Anyway - maybe those NOtty beers I did were bad for other reasons (bad recipe, etc.) but they were certainly in the "do not repeat" category. I've had good luck a lot of other yeasts: 04, 05, Bry-97, Danstar Bell Saison, WYeast 1010, 1007 and 1098, 3711 and 1214.

 

[dmtaylor]

Notty is a high attenuator in the 80s. I'd recommend any other yeast for a milk stout, or it will be too thin. What else you got?

 

[kh54s10]

I too have had good luck with 04, 05 Bry-97, WY1010 and WY3711 and a lot of others. I cannot attribute the yeast used to any of my beers that were not as good as the others.

Luckily, so far I have only had one that I don't drink, though I still have it in a keg for cooking. It was a very high gravity experiment and it stayed way too sweet. It obviously didn't involve Nottingham.

 

[MaryB]

Just 1056 American Ale and T-58 on hand for other alternatives... maybe a packet of S-05... and the nearest brew store is a 250 mile round trip... I will give the Notty a try, the kit was free...

 

[dmtaylor]

Use US-05 if you've got it.

 

[Jcruse]

I stay as far away from S-04 as possible now. In the few times I've used it, I've always ended up with a "dirty sock" after-taste to my beers. Don't know how else to describe it, but it doesn't leave a smooth finish at all...WLP004 worked MUCH better for me in my stout.

 

[CJ-3]

Nottingham works very well in a stout snd I have used it several times. Make sure to rehydrate it before use and be prepared for a slow start. The longest I have gone before it took off was close to 30 hours.

 

[MaryB]

I planned on a starter, and I am out of 05... thought I might have had some but gone.