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Yeasts for use with various Beer Styles

The following beer descriptions are taken from the American Homebrewers Association National Homebrew Competition Guidelines (with some adjustments by Wyeast Labs).

We also have available a similar chart giving greater detail on how to brew each beer style.

Type of Yeast

Ale Lager Wheat Special

Yeasts for use with various Ales

Beer Style Typical Characteristics Recommended Wyeast Strain
English Pale Ale, Bitters Low to medium maltiness, high hop bitterness, low to medium diacetyl OK, Fruitiness/esters OK (or even "highly desirable") 1028, 1098, 1968
American-style Pale Ale Generally drier than British pale ales; high hop bitterness; high hop aroma. Low diacetyl OK. Fruity/estery 1056, 1028, 1338
Brown Ale/Mild Low bitterness; sweet and malty. Low esters; low diacetyl OK. Light to medium body 1028, 1338, 1084
Scottish Ale Low bitterness; medium to high maltiness. Medium body. low diacetyl OK 1728, 1056, 1084
Scottish Strong Ale Medium to full body; very malty. Low bitterness. Medium to high diacetyl. High alcohol 1728, 1056
English Strong Ale Medium to full body; malty; medium to high bitterness. fruitiness/esters high. Low diacetyl OK. High alcohol. 1968, 1028, 1098
Porter Medium to full body; low to medium sweetness; medium to high bitterness; fruitiness/esters high. Low diacetyl OK 1084, 1028, 1056
Dry Stout Medium to full body. Medium to high bitterness. Sweet maltiness. No hop flavor or aroma. Diacetyl low to medium. Alcohol low to medium 1084, 1007, 1028
Sweet Stout Medium to full body. Low bitterness. No hop flavor o aroma. Low to medium alcohol. Low diacetyl OK 1968,1338,1056
Imperial Stout Malty. Fruitiness/esters OK. High hop bitterness an flavor. Full body; high alcohol 1084, 1056, 1728
Barley Wine Malty sweet. Fruity/estery. Medium to full body. Very high alcohol. Low to medium diacetyl OK 1728, 1084, 1056
Düsseldorf-style Altbier Light to medium body; medium to high bitterness. Low hop flavor. Low fruitiness and esters 1007,1338,1056
Kölsch Light to medium body; dry. Medium bitterness; low hop flavor and aroma 2565,1007,1338

 

Yeasts for use with various Lagers

Beer Style Typical Characteristics Recommended Wyeast Strain
Bohemian Pilsner Light to medium body. Medium to high bitterness low to medium hop flavor; high hop aroma. Low to medium maltiness Low diacetyl OK. No fruitiness/esters 2124, 2007, 2278
German Pilsner Light to medium body. Dry. Bitter. Medium to high hop flavor and aroma. Very low diacetyl OK. No fruitiness/esters 2007, 2124, 2308
American Pilsner Light body. Low to medium bitterness; low to medium hop aroma. No fruitiness/esters or diacetyl 2035,2007,2278
German Light Lager (Helles) Medium maltiness. Low bitterness. Hop flavor and aroma. Low diacetyl OK. No fruitiness/esters 2308, 2206, 2035
Dortmund/Export Medium body. Medium maltiness. Medium bitterness. Hop flavor and aroma. No fruitiness/esters or diacetyl 2206,2308,2035
Vienna/Oktoberfest/Maerzenbier Malty sweetness; medium body. Low to medium bitterness. Low hop flavor and aroma. No fruitiness/esters or diacetyl 2206, 2278, 2308
Bavarian Dark (Dunkel) Medium body. Medium bitterness. Low diacety OK. No fruitiness/esters 2206, 2308
Bock/Doppelbock Full body. Malty. Low bitterness. Low diacetyl OK. No fruitiness/esters. Medium to high alcohol 2124, 2278, 2007
California Common Beer Medium body; medium to high hop bitterness and flavor. Fruitiness/esters low 2112

 

Yeasts for use with various Wheat Beers

Beer Style Typical Characteristics Recommended Wyeast Strain
American Wheat Light to medium body. Low to medium bitterness. Some malt and hop aroma. Low to medium fruitiness/esters. Low diacetyl OK 1007,1056
Bavarian Weizenbier Light to medium body. fruity/estery/phenolic. Low bitterness. Low hop flavor and aroma OK. No diacetyl. Distinctive clove/banana/vanilla aroma/flavor evident 3068, 3056
Belgian Witbier Low to medium bitterness. Low to medium body. Dry tart. Low to medium esters. Some phenolic notes in aroma/flavor 3944
Berliner Weisse Light body. Dry. Sharp lactic sourness. Fruity and estery. Very low bitterness; no hop character. No diacetyl 3068 with sour mash or L bulgaricus

 

Yeasts for use with special Styles

Beer Style Typical Characteristics Recommended Wyeast Strain
Belgian Ales (dubbel, tripel, abbey, grand cru) Everything, all over the map. All marked by distinctive contributions from the yeast 1214, 3944
Lambic Sour, horsey. Fruity/estery. Can be phenolic 3278

 

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