Lalvin Wine Yeast 71B Yeast, 10 Packs

I have not used this yet but wanted to comment that it appears Lalvin changed their packaging. 71B and 71B-1122 are the same. Expiration date is 12-2020.I’ll update the review if I have anything bad to say about the yeast but I’m pleased so far.

I have used this yeast for two batches of mead. I read this was supposed to be for sweet wine but both of mine have turned out fairly dry. Not sure if it is me or the yeast. Produced a very high abv! Overall a great quality product.

100% starts. I haven't even worried about starting the yeast separately, just pitching it straight into warmer than room temp must, airlock bubbling at over 1 per second within a couple hours. I use nutrient though, FYI. This stuff is supposed to be good to around 15% but I believe it will get closer to 18 with good environment and some early stirring.

hydrated a little less than a teaspoon of 71B yeast in 4 oz water, added 1/2 tsp sugar and a little apple juice. Mixture 90F temp. Waited 1/2 hour it was already foaming. Added it to the rest of the juice and nutrient mix 80F in the gallon jug. Took off like a rocket and started working. Two days later airlock is bubbling 1 burp a second. Room temp about 74F degrees. I usually use EC1118 which always works to make apple wine. The test is to see if there is a taste difference between the EC1118 and 71B.

Making mead and wine and wanted to try a different yeast. This took off fast and I could drink the 4 week old mead if I had to, but I look forward to opening it early next year. I have another batch that has been in primary for a month and is still visibly active. It is supposed to be a sweeter mead, but at this rate, it may be getting close to it's tolerance. Patience. I need a better source of patience. :)

Used this yeast to make honeywine, and it worked perfectly. It was brewed in our basement where it tends to be cooler but is a little unpredictable in temperature (brewing temp for this yeast is 59° and 86°F, so it's a nice wide range). Brewed perfectly and then bottled into grolsch top bottles to carbonate and finish up, the finished product was nice and bubbly and pleasant. I will absolutely buy it again.

I thought I wouldn't have a use for 10 packages, but they last well in refrigerator, and for 1 gallon mead recipes these work well. I would order 10 packages again. The producer (Lalvin) is a well- known producer of dependable purity yeast. This strain (71B) is a popular choice for mead fermentation.

Be warned that using too much sugar with this yeast during intial fermentation can adn often will result in a stuck fermentation or no fermentation whatsoever.