Homebrewing Yeast Comparison and Substitution

Liquid and dry yeast are the two major forms of yeast used in homebrewing.

Liquid Yeast: Live yeast microbes that have been encapsulated in a liquid medium are called liquid yeast. It may create more nuanced tastes and smells than dry yeast and is often thought to be fresher and more robust. Since liquid yeast must be kept chilled until it is time to utilize it, it is also more sensitive to temperature and storage conditions. Prior to pitching, it must be adequately rehydrated and handled carefully to prevent infection.

Dry Yeast: The water is taken out of liquid yeast to create dry yeast, which has a longer shelf life and is more resilient to temperature fluctuations and storage conditions. Dry yeast is also easier to use since it doesn’t need to be refrigerated and may be thrown straight into the wort without needing to be rehydrated. Dry yeast, however, may not be as active as liquid yeast and may result in less nuanced smells and odors.

A broad range of beer styles may be produced using both liquid and dry yeast, however, the selection of yeast will depend on the desired properties of the finished product. The table below will go over a comparison of some of the most popular strains of yeast and compare them. It will also show you the best substitutions for each and the dry equivalent of liquid yeast. Some of these yeast substitutions are the best match and may not be the exact strain. Local homebrew shops (LHBS) may not have what you need in stock and a substitution is needed.

BREWERYWYEASTWHITE LABSIMPERIALGIGADRY
Dusseldorf (Zum Uerige)1007 German Ale Yeast WLP036 Düsseldorf Alt YeastG02 German AleSafale K-97
Widmer vis Zum Uerige1010 American Wheat WLP320 American Hefeweizen GY020 Portland Hefe -
Oranjeboom (Dutch)1026 British Cask AleLallemand CBC-1
Worthington White Shield1028 London Ale Yeast WLP013 London Ale Yeast -
Sierra Nevada1056 American Ale Yeast WLP001 California Ale Yeast A07 Flagship GY001Safale US-05 / Lallemand BRY-97 Mangrove Jack's M10
Guinness1084 Irish Ale Yeast WLP004 Irish Ale Yeast A10 DarknessGY080 -
Whitbread - dry1098 British Ale Yeast WLP007 English DryA01 HouseGY031Safale S-04
Whitbread1099 Whitbread Ale Yeast -
Pripps1187 Ringwood Ale Yeast WLP005 British Ale YeastSafale S-33
Chimay1214 Belgian Ale Yeast WLP500 Trappist aleB63 MonasticGY014Safbrew T-58
Anchor Liberty1272 American Ale Yeast II WLP051 California V Ale Yeast A15 Independence
Henley of Thames 1275 Thames Valley Ale Yeast WLP023 Burton Ale Yeast Lallemand Windsor
Boddingtons1318 London Ale Yeast III A38 Juice
Hales Brewery1332 Northwest Ale Yeast
Adnam's1335 British Ale Yeast II WLP025 Southwold Ale Yeast
Wisenschaftliche Station #3381338 European Ale Yeast WLP011 European Ale Yeast
Duvel (Moortgart) via McEwans1388 Belgian Strong Ale Yeast WLP570 Belgian Golden Ale YeastGY048 Golden PearMangrove Jack's M31
McEwans1728 Scottish Ale YeastWLP028 Edinburgh Scottish Ale Yeast A31 Tartan GY044
Rochefort1762 Belgian Abbey YeastII WLP540 Abbey IV Ale YeastSafbrew T-58
Youngs Brewery1768 English Special Bitter
Fullers1968 London ESB Ale Yeast WLP002 English Ale YeastA09 Pub Lallemand London ESB
Budvar 2000 Budvar Lager Yeast
Pilsner Urquell lager H-strain 2001 Pilsen Lager Yeast WLP800 Pilsner Lager Yeast
Budweiser2007 Pilsen Lager Yeast WLP840 American Pilsner Lager Yeast
August Schell2035 American Lager Yeast
Coors2105 Rocky Mountain Lager
Anchor Brewing2112 California Lager YeastWLP810 San Francisco Lager YeastL05 CablecarMangrove Jack's M54
Weihenstephan 34/702124 Bohemian Lager Yeast WLP830 German Lager Yeast L13 Global Saflager W-34/70
Weihenstephan 2062206 Bavarian Lager Yeast WLP820 Oktoberfest Lager YeastSaflager S-23
Christian Schmidt (Philadelphia2272 North American Lager Yeast WLP840 American Pilsner Lager Yeast
Pilsner Urquell-D2278 Czech Pils Yeast
Wisenschaftliche Station #308 (M2308 Munich Lager Yeast WLP838 Southern German Lager
BrewTek CL-50 via Denny Conn2450 Denny’s Favorite 50
Ayinger2487 Hella-Bock YeastWLP833 German Bock Yeast
Weihenstephan 165, Köln (Päffgen) 2565 Kolsch Yeast WLP029 German Ale / KolschG03 Dieter GY021Safale K-97
Weihenstephan W1652575PC Kolsch II WLP003 German Ale II
Weihenstephan 683068 Weihenstephan Weizen YeastWLP300 Hefeweizen Ale YeastG01 StefonGY017Safale WB-06
Weihenstephan 663333 GermanWheat Yeast WLP380 Hefeweizen IV Ale Yeast
Hoegaarden 3463 Forbidden Fruit Yeast WLP720 Sweet Mead /Wine Yeast
Achouffe3522 Belgian Ardennes Yeast WLP550 Belgian Ale Yeast B45 Gnome
Weihenstephan 1753638 Bavarian Wheat Yeast WLP351 Bavarian Weizen YeastLallemand Munich
Brassiere Thiriez3711 French Saison Yeast B64 Napoleon GY018
Saison du Pont3724 Belgian Saison YeastWLP565 Saison Ale YeastGY027 Saison #2Lallemand Belle Saison
Soy-Erezee, Belgium. Fantome3725 Biere De Garde
Blaugies, Belgium3726 Farmhouse Ale B56 Rustic
Rodenbach3763 Roeselare Ale Blend
Westmalle3787 Trappist High Gravity WLP530 Abbey Ale YeastB48 Triple Double
Esen, Belgium (De Dolle)3942 Belgian Wheat Yeast
Hoegaarden/ Celis White3944 Belgian Witbier YeastWLP400 BelgianWit Ale Yeast B44 WhiteoutMangrove Jack's M21
Weihenstephan W165WLP003 German Ale II Yeast(PS)
Sam AdamsWLP008 East Coast Ale Yeast
Ridley's AleWLP022 Essex Ale Yeast (PS)
MarstonsWLP026 Premium Bitter Yeast (PS)
NewcastleWLP038 Manchester AleMangrove Jack's M03
AlchemistWLP095 Burlington AleA04 BarbarianGY054
Thomas HardyWLP099 Super High Gravity Ale Yeast
East Midlands PlatWLP039 East Midlands YeastLallemand Nottingham
Ayinger2487PC Hella BockWLP833 German Bock Yeast
HürlimannWLP885 Zurich Lager Yeast Saflager S-189
Grupo ModeloWLP940 Mexican LagerYeast
Rogue1764 PacmanA18 Joystick
Unicorn DustWLP644A20 Citrus
Kasteel1581PC Belgian StoutB51 Workhorse
Augustiner2352 Munich IIWLP6860L17 Harvest

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Stu
Author: Stu

Meet Brew.info's founder and head brewer, Stu. He began homebrewing as a hobby 13  years ago and has now made it a full-time career. He gives his advice, recipes, and reviews of equipment on Brew.info in an effort to encourage others to experience the satisfaction of homebrewing beer. You can find him trying out new breweries and beers, or unwinding at home with a pint of his most recent creation, when he isn't busy brewing or writing about beer. Cheers!

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