Yeast Substitution Chart & Guide

Can’t find the yeast your recipe calls for?

Don’t cancel brew day.

One of the biggest mistakes beginner homebrewers make is thinking they need the exact yeast strain listed in every recipe.

The truth is, many yeast strains are closely related and produce very similar results.

Will your beer be identical?

No.

Will it still be excellent?

Most of the time, absolutely.

That’s one of the core ideas behind Make Beer Easy:

Recipes are guides, not handcuffs.

A Quick Note Before You Start

There is no such thing as a perfect yeast substitution.

Even closely related yeast strains can differ in attenuation, flocculation, ester production, alcohol tolerance and fermentation temperature.

This guide is designed to help you choose the closest practical substitute while understanding what changes to expect.

How To Use This Yeast Substitution Chart

Before choosing a substitute, ask yourself:

What job is the yeast doing?

Is it:

  • Producing a clean fermentation?
  • Adding fruity esters?
  • Creating Belgian spice?
  • Producing haze?
  • Leaving more body?
  • Fermenting cold like a lager?

Match the fermentation profile, not just the yeast manufacturer.

Confidence Ratings

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ = Nearly interchangeable

⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ = Excellent substitute with only minor differences

⭐⭐⭐☆☆ = Good substitute but expect noticeable changes

⭐⭐☆☆☆ = Use with caution. Beer will change.

⭐☆☆☆☆ = Last resort only.

Clean American Ale Yeasts

Perfect for Pale Ales, IPAs, Blonde Ales, Cream Ales and American Ambers.

Yeast Best Substitute Confidence Best Beer Styles Notes
BRY-97 US-05, WLP001, Wyeast 1056, M44 ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ American Ales Slightly slower to start but very clean.
Imperial A07 Flagship US-05, WLP001, Wyeast 1056 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ American Ales Chico family strain.
Mangrove Jack M44 US-05, WLP001, Wyeast 1056, BRY-97 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ American Ales Excellent dry Chico-style yeast.
Nottingham US-05 (practical substitute) ⭐⭐⭐☆☆ Many Ale Styles Clean-ish profile but not a true Chico strain. Leaves a different character.
Omega OYL-004 West Coast Ale US-05, WLP001, Wyeast 1056 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ American Ales Very clean fermentation.
SafAle US-05 WLP001, Wyeast 1056, BRY-97, M44, Imperial A07, OYL-004 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ American Ales The benchmark clean American ale yeast.
WLP001 California Ale US-05, Wyeast 1056, BRY-97, M44 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ American Ales Same Chico family.
Wyeast 1056 American Ale US-05, WLP001, BRY-97, M44 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ American Ales Nearly interchangeable with US-05.

🍻 Big Robb Tip

If you’re brewing a West Coast IPA and can’t find US-05…

Don’t panic.

WLP001, Wyeast 1056, BRY-97 and M44 are all excellent choices.

English Ale Yeasts

Yeast Best Substitute Confidence Best Beer Styles Notes
Imperial A01 House S-04, WLP007, Wyeast 1098 ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ English Ales Classic English character.
SafAle S-04 WLP007, Wyeast 1098, Imperial A01 ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ English Ales, Stouts Fruity, clears quickly.
WLP002 English Ale Wyeast 1968, Imperial Pub A09 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Bitters, Milds Rich malt profile, very flocculent.
WLP007 Dry English Ale S-04, Wyeast 1098 ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ English IPA, Porter Slightly drier finish.
Windsor S-04 (not identical) ⭐⭐⭐☆☆ English Ales Lower attenuation and fruitier.
Wyeast 1098 British Ale WLP007, S-04 ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ English Ales Balanced English profile.
Wyeast 1968 London ESB WLP002, Imperial Pub A09 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ English Bitters One of the best English pub strains.

Hazy IPA & Juicy Ale Yeasts

Yeast Best Substitute Confidence Best Beer Styles Notes
Imperial A38 Juice Verdant IPA, Wyeast 1318, WLP066 ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ NEIPA Soft mouthfeel and fruit-forward.
LalBrew New England Verdant, WLP095 ⭐⭐⭐☆☆ NEIPA Fruity East Coast profile.
Omega OYL-011 British V Verdant, Wyeast 1318 ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ NEIPA Soft and juicy.
Verdant IPA Wyeast 1318, WLP066, Imperial A38 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ NEIPA One of the best hazy IPA strains available.
WLP066 London Fog Wyeast 1318, Verdant ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ NEIPA Fruity with excellent haze.
Wyeast 1318 London Ale III Verdant, WLP066 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ NEIPA Classic hazy IPA yeast.

Why isn’t US-05 a good substitute for Verdant?

Because yeast does much more than ferment sugar.

Verdant creates fruity esters, haze and a soft mouthfeel.

US-05 produces a much cleaner beer.

You’ll still make beer.

You just won’t make the same beer.

Lager Yeasts

Yeast Best Substitute Confidence Best Beer Styles Notes
M54 California Lager WLP810, Wyeast 2112 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ California Common Warmer lager fermentation.
S-23 W-34/70, WLP830, Wyeast 2124 ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ Lagers Slightly fruitier.
W-34/70 WLP830, Wyeast 2124, S-23 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ All Lagers Gold standard dry lager yeast.
WLP820 Oktoberfest Wyeast 2206 ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ Märzen Rich malt profile.
WLP830 German Lager W-34/70, Wyeast 2124 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ German Lagers Very close substitute.
Wyeast 2124 Bohemian Lager W-34/70, WLP830 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Czech/German Lagers Nearly interchangeable.
Wyeast 2206 Bavarian Lager WLP820 ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ Märzen, Bocks Rich, malty lager profile.

Wheat Beer Yeasts

Yeast Best Substitute Confidence Best Beer Styles Notes
Mangrove Jack M20 WB-06, WLP300, Wyeast 3068 ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ Hefeweizen Banana and clove.
SafAle WB-06 WLP300, Wyeast 3068, M20 ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ Wheat Beers German wheat profile.
WLP300 Hefeweizen Wyeast 3068, WB-06 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Hefeweizen Classic banana/clove strain.
WLP320 American Hefeweizen Wyeast 1010 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ American Wheat Cleaner profile.
Wyeast 1010 American Wheat WLP320 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ American Wheat Clean wheat fermentation.
Wyeast 3068 Weihenstephan WLP300, WB-06 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Hefeweizen The classic German wheat strain.

Belgian & Saison Yeasts

Yeast Best Substitute Confidence Best Beer Styles Notes
Belle Saison WLP565, Wyeast 3724 ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ Saison Dry, peppery, reliable.
WLP500 Trappist Ale Wyeast 1214 ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ Belgian Abbey Rich fruit and spice.
WLP530 Abbey Ale Wyeast 3787 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Tripels, Strong Ales Excellent substitute.
WLP565 Saison Belle Saison, Wyeast 3724 ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ Saison Can be slow but authentic.
WLP570 Belgian Golden Ale Wyeast 1388 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Belgian Golden Strong Nearly interchangeable.
Wyeast 3711 French Saison Belle Saison, WLP566 ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ Saison Very reliable attenuator.
Wyeast 3724 Belgian Saison Belle Saison, WLP565 ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ Saison Traditional saison strain.

Irish, Stout & Porter Yeasts

Yeast Best Substitute Confidence Best Beer Styles Notes
Imperial Darkness A10 WLP004, Wyeast 1084 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Irish Stouts Excellent substitute.
SafAle S-04 WLP007, Wyeast 1098 ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ Porters & Stouts Great dry yeast option.
WLP004 Irish Ale Wyeast 1084 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Irish Stouts Nearly identical.
Wyeast 1084 Irish Ale WLP004 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Irish Stouts Classic Guinness-style yeast.

Kveik Yeasts

Yeast Best Substitute Confidence Best Beer Styles Notes
Hornindal Kveik Omega Hornindal, WLP521 ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ IPAs, Pale Ales Big tropical fruit.
LalBrew Voss Omega Voss, Imperial Loki ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Many Ale Styles Orange citrus character.
WLP521 Hornindal Omega Hornindal ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ Kveik Styles Fruity tropical fermentation.

Real Brew Day Examples

✅ Can’t find US-05?

Use WLP001 or Wyeast 1056.

✅ Brewing a hazy IPA?

Don’t replace Verdant with US-05 unless you’re okay making a cleaner beer.

✅ Need W-34/70?

WLP830 and Wyeast 2124 are excellent substitutes.

Final Thoughts

Most yeast substitutions aren’t nearly as scary as they seem.

The trick is matching the type of fermentation, not the manufacturer.

Understand what the yeast contributes, pick the closest substitute, and keep brewing.

Recipes are guides, not handcuffs.

Cheers,

Big Robb
Make Beer Easy
Simple brewing.  Better beer.

P.S. 🍺 New to homebrewing? Grab my free Beginner Brewing Bootcamp and I’ll show you how to brew great beer without making the hobby more complicated than it needs to be.

👉 Get Free Bootcamp Here

P.P.S. 🍻 Want to brew some of my favorite beers? Get my Top 5 Best-Selling Brew Pub Recipes free and start brewing proven recipes at home.

👉 Get Your 5 Free Recipes Here