Mangrove Jacks M44 - Brown yeast?

[MrC]

Used  M44 for the first time yesterday and started regretting it shortly after opening the pack.

The yeast granules were brown and after re-hydration the foaming yest was also brown.  Sort of a milk chocolate brown.  Expiry date was 12-2019 and the yest had been well handled since I received it.  I pitched 2 packs into a 1.070 Red IPA.

Is this normal for M44?  Anyone had similar experience?  Wondering whether to get some US-05 and repitch.

I can't help but think to myself "if it's brown, flush it down"

[jt]

no, haven't tried that one, just the M42 new World Strong, which worked out really well - and the M54 Steam lager, which I'm not 100% sold on yet.

Did it kick in, how's it doing ?

[Mark Weusten]

I second that about M42, just used it in citra smash ale. Turned out very well, hops and malt flavours popping. I am not a fan of the M44

[MrC]

Interesting... Thanks guys, might have to try M42 next.  I'm a bit over US-05 and it's diacetyl at the moment.

[jt]

I didn't think it was quite that good on the hops. 

More a good yeast for a Golden Ale Or Blond sort of value, depends on the balance I guess

certainly kinder on the hops than a few other Brit Ale yeasts and it's worth a go

[Ian Rushton]

M42 has become one of my 'go to' yeasts for ales, short lag, vigorous ferment and drops like a stone when done. Reminds me of Nottingham actually.   Seems to bottle carbonate at cooler temps too.   M54 is currently under 'evaluation'.

[Peter Smith]

Its hard to go past notty...     love that yeast.  The only caveat is that the atten is HIGH.  I made a 100% golden promise / Target bitter , damn golden promise is grainy to start with, add in the lack of residual sweetness in a gp smash and it was a grain fest.   Target is not a soft fluffy hop either.

I have a Bookbinder clone I used Notty in to keg tonight/this weekend, i may repitch this cake once i have tasted the beer, will see if it dried the recipe out too much as the real thing has quite a lot of body..... 

its quite possible that this is simply repackaged notty yeast.

[jt]

I haven't used Notts for a long time, but my memory thinks M42 is kinder on the hops.

I'd give Notts some consideration for next weekends little porter, but I already have an M42 in the fridge ... one day maybe

[Crusader-Rob]

I've used M44 a few times with good results. the yeast did appear to be a little darke than things such as US-05 etc. but nothing alarming like what your describing.

a tip for M44, is the packs are 1.5g smallerthan the otherdry yeasts outthere, and it tends to be a slow starter, and really needs an overpitch to avoid lag times and the off-flavours which can sometimesbe involved in that.

for a 1.070 Red IPA i would normally pitch 4 packs of this stuff. but thats just me.

[MrC]

"for a 1.070 Red IPA i would normally pitch 4 packs of this stuff"

Really?  Is that for a 22L'ish batch or something bigger?

[MrC]

The M44 seems to be going well. Pitched at 17C and raised to 19.5 over 24 hours.  Then up to 21C over the next 2 days.

It has a massive krausen which has reached the to of the fermenter and is foaming out through the airlock.  Something I've only seen on a 1.095 Triple with Wyeast 3787.  It all seems to be going well so I'll just have to wait for the taste test.

[MrC]

Quick update.  This beer is now kegged and all is well.  It seems that the brown colour of the yeast is not something to be alarmed about.

[Peter Smith]

I can second Robs comment ,   It does need 2 packs IMHO even for a 1.050 beer especially if its not at 18C..   on the +ve side it seems to start and finish even at 14C (tho the lag is LONG)

I like the yeast but don't like the lag gamble...  especially for a clean yeast that adds little to the beer.  I would rather use 1272 etc.