Homebrew Yeast Strains Chart

With the plethora of yeast strains available from different companies, it can be hard to keep all of the products straight. Choosing the proper yeast strain is essential to the quality of your finished beer. Here's an overview of the most common strains currently available to homebrewers from North America's leading suppliers, who provided all of the information for this chart. Just select a beer style from the menu below to view a chart with appropriate yeast strains to consider for your recipe.

Key: Type=Type of yeast, S=Slant, D=Dry, L=Liquid, Floc=Flocculation, Atten=Attenuation, Temp=Ideal Fermentation Temperature

Name & Number
Type
Lab
Floc.
Atten.
Temp.
Description
A07 Flagship
L
Imperial Yeast
Low/Med
73-77%
60-72°

Commonly referred to as “chico” this yeast is a craft brewing standard, loved for its extremely clean character.

A10 Darkness
L
Imperial Yeast
Medium
71-75%
62-72°

Brewers love this yeast strain for dark beers. Its high alcohol tolerance make it a go-to for big beers.

American Ale 1056
L
Wyeast
Low/Med
73-77%
60-72°

Well balanced. Ferments dry, finishes soft.

American Ale BRY 96
D
Lallemand
High
59-72°

Clean ale strain

American Ale II 1272
L
Wyeast
Medium
72-76%
60-72°

Slightly nutty, soft, clean and tart finish.

American Ale Yeast Blend WLP060
L
White Labs
Medium
72-80%
68-72°

Blend celebrates the strengths of California ale strains.

American Wheat 1010
L
Wyeast
Low
74-78%
58-74°

Produces a dry, slightly tart, crisp beer.

Brewferm Top
D
Brewferm
Med/High
64-77°

Universal top-fermenting beer yeast.

California Ale V WLP051
L
White Labs
Med/High
70-75%
66-70°

Produces a fruity, full-bodied beer.

California Ale WLP001
L
White Labs
Medium
73-80%
68-73°

Clean flavors accentuate hops; very versatile.

Charlie’s Fist Bump WLP1983
L
White Labs
Low
66-70%
55-73°

The recipes in both Papazian’s books, “The Complete Joy of Homebrewing,” “The Homebrewer’s Companion,” and “Microbrewed Adventures” were originally developed and brewed with this yeast.

Citrus A20
L
Imperial Yeast
Low
73-75%
67-80°

Citrus cranks out orange and lemon aromas along with some tropical fruit. Use this strain at high temps for big ester production.

Coopers Pure Brewers’ Yeast
D
Coopers
High
High
68-80°

Clean, round flavor profile.

Cream Ale WLP080
L
White Labs
Medium
75-80%
65-70°

Produces a pleasing light fruity note from the ale yeast, while the lager strain produces clean pilsner-like flavors and a slightly subdued hop bitterness.

Cream Ale WLP80
L
White Labs
Medium
75-80%
65-70°

A blend of ale and lager strains that creates a clean, crisp, light American lager style.

Darkness A10
L
Imperial Yeast
Medium
71-75%
62-72°

A beautiful strain for stout, porter, brown, and amber ales. Darkness produces a unique character that matches up perfectly with roasted and caramel malts.

Denny’s Favorite 50 1450
L
Wyeast
Low
74-76%
60-70°

Can be used for almost any beer style. Accentuates malt, caramel, or fruit character.

East Coast Ale (OYL-032)
L
Omega Yeast
Low/Med
70-75%
68-73°

Thought to be the famous Bostonian strain. It is suitable for a broad range of beer styles with an American spin.

East Coast Ale WLP008
L
White Labs
Low/Med
70-75%
68-73°

Very clean and low esters.

East Midlands Ale WLP039
L
White Labs
Med/High
73-82%
66-70°

Available Sept-Oct. Medium to low fusel fruit and alcohol production.

Flagship A07
L
Imperial Yeast
Low/Med
73-77%
60-72°

This strain performs well at standard ale temperatures but can be used in the low 60s to produce exceptionally crisp ales.

German Ale/Kölsch WLP029
L
White Labs
Medium
72-78%
65-69°

A super-clean, lager-like ale.

House A01
L
Imperial Yeast
High
73-75%
62-70°

Extremely versatile and flocculent enough to drop out of the beer quickly. Best strain choice for any and all English-inspired recipes, however does extremely well in hopped up American styles too.

Joystick A18
L
Imperial Yeast
Med/High
73-77%
60-70°

This strain is a fast mover and can be used at the low end of the ale fermentation spectrum to keep it clean. Joystick is a great choice for big, high alcohol, malt forward beers but will shine just as well in a hoppy double IPA.

LalBrew BRY-97
D
Lallemand
High
59-72°

Very clean ale flavor.

M15 Empire Ale
D
Mangrove Jack's
Med/High
70-75%
64-72°

A top-fermenting ale yeast suitable for a variety of full bodied ales, with exceptional depth. Ferments with full, rich dark fruit flavours.

M44 US West Coast
D
Mangrove Jack's
Med/High
77-85%
64-73°

Very neutral strain. Citrus and pine hops will be enhanced.

Muntons Premium Gold
D
Muntons
High
High
57-77°

Clean balanced ale yeast for 100% malt recipies.

Muntons Standard Yeast
D
Muntons
High
High
57-77°

Clean well balanced ale yeast.

Neutral Grain WLP078
L
White Labs
Medium
77-84%
76-85°

Clean, fast fermentation used in high-gravity beers.

Northwest Ale 1332
L
Wyeast
High
67-71%
65-75°

Malty, mildly fruity, good depth and complexity.

Old Newark Ale ECY10
L
East Coast Yeast
High
76-%
60-68°

Good for all styles of American and English ales

Old Sonoma Ale WLP076
L
White Labs
Medium
70-74%
66-70°

Neutral and versatile. Available May-June

Pacific Ale WLP041
L
White Labs
High
65-70%
65-68°

A popular ale yeast from the Pacific Northwest.

Ringwood Ale 1187
L
Wyeast
High
68-72%
64-74°

A malty, complex profile that clears well.

SafAle T-58
D
Fermentis
Low
70-70%
59-68°

Develops estery and somewhat peppery spiceyness.

SafAle US-05
D
Fermentis
Medium
81-81%
64-82°

Clean with mild flavor for a wide range of styles.

San Diego Super Yeast WLP090
L
White Labs
Med/High
76-83%
65-68°

Versatile, super-fast, super-clean strain.

San Francisco Lager WLP810
L
White Labs
High
65-70%
58-65°

For “California Common” type beer.

Star Party Ale
L
Omega Yeast
Low/Med
73-80%
60-73°

Star Party is a thiol burst with aromas of passion fruit, dank pink guava, and citrus zest.

Voyager A05
L
Imperial Yeast
Med/High
68-72%
64-74°

Use Voyager at low temps for nutty flavors in malt forward beers or ramp it up to produce apricot and peach aromas for dry hopped pales and IPAs.

West Coast Ale I (OYL-004)
L
Omega Yeast
Low/Med
73-80%
60-73°

Popularly called “Chico,” West Coast Ale I is a reliable, versatile and popular neutral foundation for displays of malts and hops.

West Coast Ale II (OYL-009)
L
Omega Yeast
Medium
72-76%
60-72°

West Coast Ale II is a consistent, well flocculating, well attenuating and easy clearing neutral strain.

West Coast Ale III (OYL-043)
L
Omega Yeast
Med/High
76-83%
65-68°

Neutral and versatile, this strain is low ester-producing with balanced flavor and aroma. Highly alcohol tolerant.

West Coast Ale IV (OYL-050)
L
Omega Yeast
Med/High
73-80%
62-74°

An easy to handle strain, this neutral-tasting, quick-and-good flocculator and highly productive top cropper has excellent attenuation.