Last Updated on May 7, 2024 by Doug Hall
Beer Yeast Substitutions, One Homebrewer’s Odyssey
I needed an extra yeast pack recently from a beer that didn’t start fermenting after 48 hours. The quickest delivery was for a 3-pack of Fermentis Safale US-05. It was $10.05 on Amazon with next-day delivery.
That was a quick fix but now I have 2 extra packs of the yeast. Safale US-05 is a good, all-around ale yeast. It is known for producing well-balanced neutral ales that are crisp and drier than some fruity esters other ale yeasts can produce.
Now I am looking at what ale recipes would work best with my extra yeast packets. Most online beer supply stores recommend certain yeasts. Can I use my extra Safale US-05 as a substitute for what is recommended?
This has sent me down the rabbit hole to find good substitute yeasts for other popular homebrew yeast strains.
Because hundreds of yeast strains are available, creating a comprehensive chart of every yeast for brewing beer and their best substitutions would be too extensive to fit in a single blog post.
However, I can provide a simplified example of such a chart. This is designed to be collaborative and frequently updated as more ideas and alternatives are found. Please leave your comments below. We’ll also start a forum on beer yeast substitutes that anyone can contribute to.
Beer Yeast Substitution Chart
| Brand Name | Yeast Strain | Best Beer Yeast Substitutions |
| Cellular Science | CelluBrew™ Lager | Fermentis SafLager W-34/70, White Labs WLP830 German Lager |
| CelluBrew™ Hefe | White Labs WLP300 Hefeweizen Ale, Wyeast 3068 Weihenstephan | |
| Fermentis | SafAle™ US-05 | Wyeast 1056 American Ale, White Labs WLP001 California Ale |
| SafLager™ W-34/70 | Wyeast 2124 Bohemian Lager, White Labs WLP830 German Lager | |
| Imperial Yeast | A38 Juice™ | Omega Yeast OYL-052 DIPA, Fermentis SafAle US-05 |
| B44 Whiteout™ | Wyeast 3944 Belgian Witbier, White Labs WLP400 Belgian Wit Ale | |
| Lallemand | Munich Classic™ | Wyeast 2206 Bavarian Lager, White Labs WLP830 German Lager |
| Belle Saison™ | Fermentis SafAle BE-134, White Labs WLP565 Belgian Saison I | |
| Omega Yeast | OYL-200 Tropical IPA™ | Imperial Yeast A38 Juice, Fermentis SafAle US-05 |
| OYL-501 Gulo™ | Wyeast 1272 American Ale II, White Labs WLP066 London Fog | |
| White Labs | WLP001 California Ale | SafAle US-05, Wyeast 1056 American Ale |
| WLP300 Hefeweizen Ale | Wyeast 3068 Weihenstephan, Fermentis SafAle WB-06 | |
| Wyeast | 1056 American Ale | SafAle US-05, White Labs WLP001 California Ale |
| 3068 Weihenstephan | White Labs WLP300 Hefeweizen Ale, Fermentis SafAle WB-06 |
This beer yeast substitution chart provides a basic overview of yeast strains from major brands and suggests some potential substitutions. However, there are many more yeast strains available from these brands, and the best substitution can depend on various factors including desired flavor profiles, fermentation characteristics, and beer style. It’s always a good idea to research specific yeast strains and their properties to find the best match for your brewing needs.
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