Wyeast Activator 4766 - Cider

Just wanted to post a review to help counter the only other review, which is a 1 star for the seller, not the product. This is my first time using Wyeast activator pouches. Prior to this, I've brewed all my cider batches with White Labs English Cider Yeast, which used to be available from my local homebrew shop. But, since they didn't carry it, I started searching for options online. I decided to take a chance on this yeast, and I am not disappointed. Following the directions, I activated the packet by pushing the activator into the corner, and then giving it a good smack. It broke open inside the outer pouch without difficulty, and I allowed it to sit for about 2 hours (the directions recommend waiting for 3 hours for best results, but note that you can still pitch immediately, if needed). In the meantime, I heated my apple juice to help the infusion blend well (a holiday blend, ginger, cloves, allspice, nutmeg, and cinnamon, with enough sugar to bring it to an OG of 1.12). After cooling down the juice, I siphoned it into the carboy, pitched the now swollen yeast pouch, ensured good aeration, and topped it off with an airlock. 8 hours later, the airlock was bubbling steadily at a good pace. Four days later, it's still bubbling away. This seems very much like a worthy substitute to my usual English cider yeast from White Labs, and I currently have no preference for one over the other, equally good. The real test will happen next December, after proper aging and a taste test, but initial results show good fermentation.

Still learning how to make hard cider, but this seemed to give a very fruity product, even starting with some rather poor local farm-stand apple juice. Does seem to need to be above 60F to get going, but once started, upper 50's worked fine. Definitely worth trying.Update after several more years of experience. This absolutely my go-to yeast. It can be controlled with racking (if you do not break the nutrient pack) and temperature to give an off-dry result. The yeast itself brings in much more flavor than the typically recommended champagne yeast (Pasteur Blanc, Premiere Blanc, Cote de Blanc, Pasteur Champagne, etc.) but not as much as a mead or riesling (which is, incidentally, much easier to control with temperature).

Fantastic product. Bought from the seller twice now. Shipping costs extra and it says not eligible for prime, however, they ship this with an ice pack to keep at proper temperature, and shipped expedited regardless of not being prime. Much appreciated. I have a great recipe using golden russet cider (5 gallons), 2 lbs of orange blossom honey, pectin enzyme and yeast nutrient, plus this cider yeast. It yields a 13% ABV cider in about three weeks, it is clear at that time as well. Taste is semi-dry, this yeast allows the apple flavor to remain very nicely unlike lalvin 1116 which took over the flavor and added more funk than I like. Would definitely recommend and will definitely buy again

This item arrived and when I attempted to pop the internal pouch there didn't seem to be one. I smacked the package all over many, many times to cause the pouch to pop and the contents to swell, but to no avail. I contacted the seller Homebrew Heaven Brewing Supplies, but never heard back. My complaint is with the seller as much as it is with the defective product.

took longer to activate than pkg said but i waited awhile to use it and i live at 10,000 ft. it took about 24hrs to swell up but worked great.