Hands on Review of White Labs Pure Pitch Next Gen Packaging Homebrew Yeast

White labs has new packaging! Tim at Fermentaions Winemaking and homebrew center contacted Mike about the new packaging, and asked if we would like a free pack of yeast if we would give our feedback. What a guy!
Fermentations Winemaking and Homebrew Center – http://www.fermentations.biz/

Always interested in trying out new stuff, we jumped on it. Mike brewed up a batch of Imperial Blonde at the Learn to Homebrew Day, which was hosted locally by Red Swing Brew House. (That was a great time and big thanks to Red Swing for hosting it! Red Swing Brewhouse – https://www.redswingbrewhouse.com/ )

The new packaging is intriguing, it contains twice the yeast, for an increase in price of 50%. So if you were paying $10 for a yeast pitch, now it’ll be $15. The new packaging has a nice twist off lid, which is far nicer than the original envelope which you had to cut the top off of.

In many cases where you can get away with using fewer packets of the new packaging.
1 pouch if the beer is below 1.074 SG and above 62F.
2 pouches if the beer is above 1.074 SG or below 62F
3 pouches if the beer is above 1.074 SG and below 62F

Pros

• New packaging is easier to open / use
• Much higher cell count.
• More economical if fermenting higher gravity beers. Only 1 pack is needed under 1.074 (18 Plato) or under 62 degrees
• Easy to see if globs of yeast were missed if you hold the package up to the light. Easy to squeeze out anything that was missed.
• Ability to add wort back to the package, reseal, shake around, and repitch to get any missed yeast.

Cons
More expensive for lower gravity beer. I heard 50% more in price. $15.99 vs $10.99

Conclusion
I won’t complain about the price increase at all. The yeast performs exceedingly well, and I prefer the screw off cap vs cutting the top of the old style tube off.

If you’re interested, the recipe that I’m testing it with was:
12Lb 12.8 oz Pale Alt Malt
13.4 oz Crystal 20
2.25 oz Cascade at 60m
1oz Cascade at 15m
1oz Cascade at 0 (In the No chill container)
WLP001 California Ale