Scottish Ale
Malty and clean at the cool end of its range, which is exactly how a Scottish ale should be fermented. Will run warm if you let it, and should not be allowed to.
Apparent attenuation
69-73%
69% - 73%
Fermentation
13-21 C
13C - 21C
Flocculation
High
Drops hard and early. Rouse it if the gravity stalls above target.
On a 1.050 wort
1.014-1.016
the finishing gravity its range implies, or 4.5-4.8% ABV
The same organism, different labels
Wyeast 1728
White Labs WLP028
Labs do not confirm each other’s provenance and these are not guaranteed identical. They are close enough to plan a batch around, which is what the list is for.
Find this strainWhere it belongs
- Scottish Export
- Wee Heavy
- Scottish Heavy
Pitching it
One fresh sachet or a healthy starter is enough for an ordinary-gravity ale. Above about 1.060, build a starter or pitch two: under-pitching produces fusel alcohol that no amount of conditioning removes.
Other ale strains
American Ale
73-80%Clean and neutral, the workhorse for anything where the hops or malt should do the talking. Ferments reliably and drops reasonably clear.
California Ale V
70-76%The chalky, high-flocculating cousin of the standard American strain. Leaves slightly more body and drops so hard the beer is bright without filtering.
English Ale
68-75%Malty and lightly fruity, finishing higher than an American strain and leaving body behind. Flocculates hard, so it needs rousing if it stalls.
London Ale III
70-75%The hazy IPA strain: enormous stone-fruit esters, low flocculation, and a slick body that suits a beer built on oats. Stalls if it gets cold, and sulks if you rouse it late.
Nottingham
77-82%Clean, fast, dry and almost unreasonably tolerant of low temperatures: it will ferment respectably at 13C, which makes it the cheapest way to fake a lager.
Yorkshire Ale
67-72%The Timothy Taylor strain: a soft, stone-fruit character and a very low attenuation that leaves a bitter tasting full at 4%. Needs rousing or it stops early.