Wyeast Yeast

Many brewers believe this to be the strain from Hoegaarden that gives Blue Moon its unique spice and tartness. Whether this rumor is true or not, this yeast is certainly our choice for classic witbiers, and makes excellent Belgian ales as well. It produces dominating phenolics, allowing spice notes, such as clove and peppercorn, to stand out over the more subtle esters this strain creates. It can be tart in the finish and ferment out somewhat dry. Because of this, it is well suited for use in beers with heavy amounts of  wheat and oats, though you might try this with a rye beer as well. Belgian Witbier is a very vigorously fermenting yeast, and excess headspace of 33% is recommended in the primary fermenter, as well as a blowoff assembly. However, it has been known to be a strain that can take some time to fully attenuate, especially when fermenting cool. For making classic witbiers serves with a slice of citrus fruit, there is no substitute for this strain!

Beer Styles: Belgian Dubbel, Belgian Tripel, Spice, Herb, or Vegetable Beer, Witbier.

London Ale III is Wyeast's strain cultivated from the Boddington's brewery, long famous for their creamy pub ale. This yeast can be used to make similar ales, fruity and rich with a flavor profile allowing malt and hops to dominate in harmony. It can leave a slight sweetness and may not be quite as highly attenuative than other strain that leave beers drier. This makes London Ale III perfect for sweeter, more malt forward styles as well as rich, hoppy pales where malt sweetness is desired to balance out hop character. It is known to be a vigorous fermenter which leaves a thick krausen behind due to high flocculation. Cold-conditioning beers fermented with this strain will cause the highly flocculant yeast to drop out, leaving behind incredibly clear, delicious beers.

Beer Styles: American Amber Ale, English Barleywine, English IPA, Extra Special/Strong Bitter (English Pale Ale), Mild, Oatmeal Stout, Old Ale, Scottish Export 80/-, Scottish Heavy 70/-, Scottish Light 60/-, Southern English Brown, Special/Best/Premium Bitter, Standard/Ordinary Bitter, Sweet Stout.

Pediococcus, A.K.A. pedio, is a lactic acid producing bacteria, and as such is often used in a blend to create complexity and sourness in sour beers, lambics and gueuzes. Because it is known to produce diacetyl, many brewers and breweries pitch it together with a strain of Brettanomyces, which can clean up the diacetyl, as well as add more layers of complexity to a beer. Over time, acid production will increase in beers inoculated with pediococcus. Used when more acidity is desired, pediococcus can be utilized for just this purpose.

Beer Styles: Fruit Lambic, Gueuze, Straight (Unblended) Lambic.

Bohemian Lager is one of our favorite lager strains. It is malty with a crisp bite to it that serves well in the production of a wide range of lagers, from light European and American style Pilsners to rich, malty Bock beers. This strain exhibits a slightly pronounced ester profile. It does very well on all lagers at its recommended temperature range, but it can also be fermented warmer to produce California Common beers and other styles as well. Wyeast recommends utilizing a diacetyl rest with this strain in order to produce as clean a beer as possible.

Beer Styles: Baltic Porter, Bière de Garde, Bohemian Pilsner, Classic American Pilsner, Dark American Lager, Doppelbock, Dortmunder Export, Eisbock, German Pilsner (Pils), Maibock/Helles Bock, Munich Dunkel, Munich Helles, Oktoberfest/Märzen, Schwarzbier (Black Beer), Traditional Bock, Vienna Lager.

Planning on making an English-style special bitter? Wyeast has the perfect yeast for you, and Great Fermentations is proud to bring it to you as part of Wyeast's Private Collection, for a limited time! This yeast functions a lot like their 1968 London ESB yeast. While still a highly flocculant strain, it is ever-so-slightly less flocculant than 1968. It works well in classic English pale styles of beer, such as ESBs, pales, it's namesake special bitters, and ordinary bitters. However, it is also recommended for use in old ales. It is very clean, with a soft maltiness that is fairly neutral, with a slight bit of fruity ethanol character.

Brettanomyces Lambicus, like many of Wyeast's wild yeast strains, comes from a Belgian brewery. Its dominant aromatic component is a very distinctive sour pie cherry, which comes through in the nose and on the palate, together with traditional leathery Brett notes. The character that this strain of Brett produces are highly sought after and go well in many different sour beers, especially fruit lambics. It works best in conjunction with other yeasts and bacteria in a blend, creating an unparalleled Belgian sour profile. Wyeast recommends conditioning with Brett Lambicus for 3 to 6 months to fully develop its unique flavor and aroma properties.

Beer Styles: Berliner Weisse, Flanders Red Ale, Fruit Lambic, Gueuze, Straight (Unblended) Lambic.

British Ale II lends a classic British character to beers. It combines high flocculation with a finish that can be, at times, slightly dry, though some have experienced this yeast to be a lower attenuating strain than some other British and American strains. It can be used to produce anything from cream ales to dry stouts, with every style in between. It is also used in a few more highly alcohol styles where malt notes form an invaluable backbone for other flavors.

Beer Styles: American Brown Ale, Brown Porter, Cream Ale, Dry Stout, English Barleywine, English IPA, Extra Special/Strong Bitter (English Pale Ale), Foreign Extra Stout, Irish Red Ale, Northern English Brown Ale, Special/Best/Premium Bitter, Standard/Ordinary Bitter

Belgian Strong Ale is the quintessential yeast strain used in the making of highly-prized Belgian Golden Strong Ales. A yeast with an illustrious history that includes the Duvel Brewery, this strain is very alcohol tolerant and can withstand high alcohol environments that would decimate lesser yeasts. It also strikes a nice balance between fruity esters and spicy phenolics to create a uniquely Belgian character that presents itself nicely in light, strong Belgian style ales. With a high temperature range that stretches to 80°F, high attenuation and a somewhat tart finish, Belgian Strong Ale is a yeast that all Belgian lovers should consider for their high-alcohol creations.

Beer Styles: Belgian Blond Ale, Belgian Golden Strong Ale, Belgian Specialty Ale, Belgian Tripel, Bière de Garde, Christmas/Winter Specialty Spiced Beer.

All-American is a proper moniker for this yeast, as it is the perfect choice not only for IPAs, but nearly any American style of beer. With a cleanliness at lower fermentation temperatures that gives rise to refreshing fruit notes at higher temperatures, American II yeast is one of our favorite strains for hop-forward beers. However, with a soft tartness and slight nut aromas, this strain is capable of making excellent American-style blondes, ambers, browns, and stouts as well. A perfect house strain yeast, it is well-attenuating and, given proper time and temperature, drops out of suspension nicely to create clear beers.

Beer Styles: American Amber Ale, American Brown Ale, American IPA, American Pale Ale, American Stout, Blonde Ale, Fruit Beer, Imperial IPA, Wood-Aged Beer.

Belgian Abbey II is relatively clean as far as Belgian yeast strains go. While it will produce dry fruit characteristics at higher temperatures, it will remain more neutral than other Belgian strains at lower temperatures. Fermenting higher gravity worts will cause more fruit esters to be produced as well, which makes this an excellent choice for Belgian Strong Ales and, if you're feeling adventurous, even Russian Imperial Stouts or Strong Scotch Ales. It is highly alcohol tolerant, and is known to put off an ethanol character in stronger beers. This character pairs well with strong malt notes that are allowed to dominate by this yeast. It is fairly attenuative, and like most Belgian strains, will stay in suspension for longer periods. The yeast is known to throw off sulfuric compounds that clear up when the yeast is given proper time and conditions, finishing with unique, clean beers with plenty of character.

Beer Styles: American Barleywine, Belgian Blond Ale, Belgian Dark Strong Ale, Belgian Golden Strong Ale, Belgian Specialty Ale, Bière de Garde, Russian Imperial Stout, Strong Scotch Ale.

Another great English strain from Wyeast, released for a limited time as part of their Private Collection series! Thames Valley II ale yeast is a great yeast strain for use in the production of a wide variety of British beer styles. Highly flocculant, as well as highly attenuative, this yeast can produce beers that finish dry, with some stone fruit esters that create a wonderful complexity in the flavor profile. The yeast settles out well and can produce very clear beers. A diacetyl rest is recommended with this strain.

Northwest Ale yeast hails from a brewery in Seattle, but has roots in the United Kingdom where it originated. It is known to be a very clean strain even at higher temperatures, with just enough fruit to give character without being overbearing. Light malt characters come out in the finish, which combines well with hops in the final product. This strain is often used in making IPAs and pale ales with an underlying malt complexity, but is a wonderful choice for many American style ales. Highly flocculant, this yeast clears well, yielding crystal clear beers.

Beer Styles: American Amber Ale, American Barleywine, American Brown Ale, American IPA & Pale, American Stout, Blonde Ale, American Pilsner, Fruit beer, Imperial IPA, Spice, Herb, or Vegetable beer.

From the Budvar brewery in the Czech Republic, this strain is a malty yet dry-finishing yeast that creates wonderful Pilsner beers. Malt and some fruitiness are often detected on the aroma end of beers fermented with this strain, Malt character comes through in the flavor as beer weighs in on the tongue. Hops burst forth during the finish, which is often balanced well between malt and dryness. A good, well-rounded yeast strain for use in all types of pilsners, it is also a good choice for American lagers as well.

Beer Styles: Bohemian Pilsner, Classic American Pilsner, Dortmunder Export, Lite American Lager.

Originating from the August Schell brewery in Minnesota, Wyeast's American Lager strain has more complexity than the Pilsen Lager strain. The August Schell brewery is one of the oldest family-owned breweries in the United States, and as such, have developed unique house strains of yeast that produce beers with significant character. This strain is known to be more bold and robust than other strains used in the production of classic American Pilsners, but comes highly recommended by a number of brewers who have used it to great success.

Beer Styles: Classic American Pilsner, Dark American Lager, Lite American Lager, Premium American Lager, Standard American Lager.

This strain from Wyeast, is a great choice for dry meads, and is used in many award winning meads. Low foaming and with little or no sulfur production. Use additional nutrients to aide in the fermentation process for mead making.

Ideal Temp Range: 55-75F (13-24C) | Alcohol Tolerance: 18% | Flocculation: Low-Medium

Belgian Wheat yeast comes from a small Belgian brewery, and is a perfect strain to use in fermentation when the fruitiness of a Belgian wheat strain is desired, but spicy phenolic compounds are not. The balance in this yeast is tilted toward ester production, with hints of bubblegum, apple and plum appearing front and center in the nose, and fruity flavors bursting forth on the palate. This is a good, balanced strain as far as Belgian wheat strains are concerned. The fruitiness tends to accentuate both malt and hops, and balances well with both. Known to be a vigorous fermenter (as many Belgian strain are), expect a full power fermentation with plenty of krausen that will produce beers dry and slightly tart in the finish. An exceptional yeast for making exceptional Belgian wheats with a lot of well-balanced fruit character.

Beer Styles: Belgian Pale Ale, Belgian Tripel, Witbier.

Wyeast's Bavarian Lager strain produces malty, rich beers, and as such is a great choice for a number of malt-forward German lagers. This yeast produces rich, malt-forward beers that clear and attenuate well. Many brewers use Bavarian Lager yeast for bock beers, Munich dunkels and Oktoberfest/Märzens with astounding results. While Wyeast recommends a diacetyl rest after fermentation, many brewers report that this yeast performs a very clean fermentation that throws little to no diacetyl. Pitching rates and temperature can affect results with this strain (or any strain, for that matter). Treat this yeast well and the results will impress the lederhosen off you!

Beer Styles: Classic Rauchbier, Doppelbock, Eisbock, Maibock/Helles Bock, Munich Dunkel, Oktoberfest/Märzen, Schwarzbier (Black Beer), Traditional Bock.

Perhaps our most popular lager strain, California Lager yeast is a very versatile strain that makes wonderfully clean beers without cold fermentation temperatures. In fact, Wyeast states that this yeast is not recommended for cold fermentation. With a temperature range between 58°F and 68°F, beers made with this strain purportedly keep lagers characteristics up to 65°F, though beers fermented warmer than this may also be very lager-like as well. It is known as the quintessential yeast in the production of California Common beer, coming from the California brewery that may have saved the style from being lost to history. Malty and highly-flocculant, this strain behaves like a slightly-cool fermenting ale yeast while producing extremely clear lagers.

Beer Styles: Baltic Porter, California Common Beer, Christmas/Winter Specialty Spiced Beer, Cream Ale, Other Smoked Beer, Premium American Lager, Spice, Herb, or Vegetable Beer.

The 4766 Cider yeast strain is a crisp, dry fermenting yeast with a big, fruity finish. Really helps to create a nice balance for all types of apples, pears, and other fruit. Allows character of the fruit to come through and dominate the profile.

Ideal Temp Range: 60-75F (15-24C) | Alcohol Tolerance: 12% | Flocculation: Low

Wyeast's Belgian lambic blend is a very unique and complex blend of belgian ale yeast, lactobacillus, pediococcus, a sherry strain, and two brettanomyces strains. With all these different yeast and bacteria in one conveneint smack pack, brewers are sure to produce Belgian-style lambic beers and other traditional sours of unsurpassed quality. Because of genetic drift over time, it is not recommended to collect and reculture this blend if a consistent end product is desired. This blend is also known to be very highly attenuative, and beers often finish extremely dry, especially with extended conditioning times. A great choice in traditional Belgian style beers that are traditionally spontaneously fermented.

Beer Styles: Flanders Red Ale, Fruit Lambic, Gueuze, Straight (Unblended) Lambic.

British strains are known for their characteristic flocculation, fruity esters, and slight butterscotch notes that can occur during fermentation. Wyeast's British Ale yeast is a wonderful British strain whose fermentation can include all these, yet tends to be more neutral than other British or English yeasts. This allows hops and malt to take center stage above yeast character. Producing balanced beers with a clean finish, this strain's medium flocculation properties means it will leave a clear beer with proper conditioning.

Beer Styles: Blonde Ale, English Barleywine, Northern English Brown Ale, Robust Porter, Scottish Export/80, Scottish Heavy/70, Scottish Light/60.