Best Places To Buy Yeast For Beer

Yeast is one of the most essential ingredients in beer brewing. Without it, you'd be left with bitter grain water that never fermented. There are many places you can buy yeast for beer, both online and in-store. Some online retailers include Amazon, Northern Brewer, Midwest Supplies, Imperial Yeast, and MoreBeer.

Online retailers like Amazon and specialist websites

Amazon

Amazon offers a diverse selection of beer yeast products, including:

• Dry yeast options such as the Fermentis SafAle US-05, LalBrew Nottingham, and LalBrew VOSS Kveik Brewing Yeast.
• Ale yeast varieties like the LalBrew New England Brewing Yeast and LalBrew Verdant IPA Brewing Yeast.
• Yeast for specific beer styles, including the Craft A Brew Safale WB-06 Dry Yeast for wheat beers and the LalBrew BRY-97 American West Coast Ale Dry Yeast for craft lagers.
• Larger quantities of yeast, such as the 500-gram packages of SafAle S-04 Dry Yeast and SafLager W-34/70 Dry Yeast.

Specialist Websites

Specialist websites provide a comprehensive range of beer yeast products and offer expert knowledge and resources for brewers. Some popular options include:

• Northern Brewer: Offers a wide variety of ale and lager yeast from well-known brands such as Omega Yeast, White Labs, Wyeast, Imperial, Lallemand, and Fermentis. They also provide yeast starter kits in different capacities.
• Omega Yeast: Focuses on providing high-quality, pitch-ready liquid yeast for both professional and home brewers. They have a range of classic and innovative yeast strains, including Saccharomyces, Brettanomyces, and Lactobacillus.
• Imperial Yeast: Offers a large selection of guaranteed in-stock yeast strains for all levels of brewers, from commercial to home brewers. They provide resources and expertise to support the brewing process.
• White Labs: Advances the craft of fermentation by offering innovative products, educational resources, and a collaborative community for brewers. They have a wide range of yeast strains and conduct in-depth analysis and testing.
• Midwest Supplies: Carries a full range of dry and liquid yeast from popular brands such as Fermentis, Wyeast, Omega Yeast Labs, Imperial Yeast, and White Labs, enabling brewers to make any type of beer.

Local homebrew shops

When visiting a local homebrew shop, you can expect to find a range of yeast brands, such as Fermentis, Wyeast, Omega Yeast Labs, Imperial Yeast, and White Labs. These brands offer different types of yeast, including ale yeast, lager yeast, and speciality yeast for Belgian-style beers or meads.

In addition to the wide selection, local homebrew shops provide the advantage of in-person assistance. The staff at these stores are often knowledgeable about the brewing process and can offer expert advice on yeast selection, as well as answer any questions you may have about brewing techniques or equipment.

Furthermore, local homebrew shops may also offer additional products and services that can enhance your brewing experience. Some stores may provide yeast starter kits, which can be helpful if you're just starting out or looking to experiment with different yeast strains. They may also stock other brewing supplies, such as fermenters, brewing equipment, and ingredients, making it a one-stop shop for all your homebrewing needs.

By visiting a local homebrew shop, you can benefit from the convenience of having a physical store nearby, where you can browse the selection, seek advice, and build a relationship with the staff to support your brewing journey.

Dry yeast vs liquid yeast

You can buy yeast for beer from online retailers such as Amazon, Northern Brewer, and Midwest Supplies, as well as specialist brewing shops.

There are several differences between dry and liquid yeast for beer brewing. Here is a summary of the pros and cons of each:

Dry Yeast

Pros

• Generally has a higher cell count
• Comes with nutrients in the package, so it is ready to pitch
• Inexpensive
• Longer shelf life (up to 3 years)
• Temperature resistant and durable
• Easier to ship
• Can be rehydrated or sprinkled directly into the fermenter

Cons

Fewer strain options as some yeast strains do not survive the drying process

Liquid Yeast

Pros

• Fresh, healthy yeast
• Endless options, including seasonal and specific strains
• Access to strains that pro brewers use

Cons

• More expensive
• Unstable in extreme temperatures
• Shorter shelf life (around 3 months)
• Requires refrigeration
• Lower cell count, so a yeast starter is often needed
• More risk of receiving old stock from a store

Yeast strains and their characteristics

Yeast is an essential ingredient in beer brewing, and different strains will produce different flavours. Here is a list of some of the most common yeast strains and their characteristics:

Ale Yeast (Top Fermenting)

Ale yeasts (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) rise to the top of the fermenter as they work, and are referred to as "top-fermenting". They typically work within a temperature range of 18-22°C, which is easy for home brewers to maintain. Ale yeasts vary in the flavours they produce, from fruity esters to clean profiles with very little character. They are used to brew ales, stouts, porters, wheat beers, kölsch and blondes.

Lager Yeast (Bottom Fermenting)

Lager yeast (Saccharomyces pastorianus) works at colder temperatures and ferments much slower than ale yeast. It typically ferments at the bottom of the fermenter, within a temperature range of 7-15°C. Lager yeasts are highly flocculant, meaning they drop out of the beer so it becomes clear. The colder temperatures lager yeasts work at inhibit the production of off-flavours, resulting in a "cleaner" taste than ales. Lager yeasts are used to brew lagers, pilsners, bocks, Märzens and dortmunders.

Belgian Lambic/Sour Ale Yeast

These yeasts are used to create sour beers, which are intentionally acidic and tart.

Barleywine/Imperial Stout Yeast

These yeasts are designed for beers with a high ABV, usually 8-12%. They are tough enough to cope in this environment and will produce a very strong, malty or roasted flavour.

India Pale Ale (IPA) Yeast

IPAs are a broad category, but generally, these yeasts will bring balance to the beer and complement the hop varieties and intensities.

Brown Ale Yeast

Brown ales are a surprisingly blank canvas, with only the colour being somewhat consistent. These yeasts will produce a delicious brown ale with a good balance between malts and hops.

Kölsch Yeast

Kölsch yeasts lend the beer a crisp, clean finish while giving profile to the malt/cereal characteristics that make this style a German favourite.

Stout and Porter Yeast

These yeasts will help you create a classic Irish stout, oyster stout, or a dark brew with South American chocolate or coffee flavours.

Wheat Beer Yeast

Wheat beer yeasts produce delicious wheat beers with overtones of banana and clove.

Yeast nutrients and energizers

You can buy yeast for beer from a variety of online retailers, including Amazon, Northern Brewer, Midwest Supplies, and Brew Mart.

Yeast nutrient blends typically contain a mix of trace elements and molecules, including inorganic nitrogen, organic nitrogen, zinc, phosphates, and other compounds that help yeast grow and complete fermentation.

Yeast energizers are nutrient blends too, but they usually contain components such as diammonium phosphate (DAP), yeast hulls, magnesium sulfate, vitamin B complexes, and tricalcium phosphate. Be aware that DAP is toxic to yeast in high concentrations, so be careful when selecting a nutrient blend.

When making beer, you should only add yeast energizers if your yeast is facing a high-gravity environment, and only add them at least 24 hours after pitching.

When making wine, cider, or mead, yeast nutrients are often recommended as these beverages' ingredients are not as nutrient-dense as those used in beer.

Frequently asked questions