Classic German Yeast Strains

I was doing some research for my next brew (German Helles) and I came across an article in the recent Beer & Brewing Magazine that featured a German-Style Helles recipe from Energen Brewing Co. There was a "Brewer's Note" section that I almost missed that advised using the Ayinger strain for this style. I didn't know there was an Ayinger strain available! That is one of my all-time favorite, bucket list breweries so I was excited to learn more....

From the Beer & Brewing article:

The lager strain that many labs market as "Bock" is widely thought to be derived from the strain that Privat-brauerei Ayinger in Aying Germany use for all it's lagers. Because of that "bock" marketing, the strain is underused. It makes a great helles, among other things.

I thought it might be useful to take a look at some of the classic German yeast strains available to us homebrewers today. I will try to do other posts for American, Belgian and British strains as well. Certainly this will not be a comprehensive list, but hopefully I hit the main ones.

Ayinger Strain

Names: Omega OYL-111 German Bock, White Labs WLP833, Wyeast 2487 Hella Bock

Styles: Amber Lager, Baltic Porter, Bock, Dark Lager, Dopplebock, Helles, Pilsner

Notes: From the Alps of southern Bavaria, this yeast produces a beer that is well balanced between malt and hop character. The excellent malt profile makes it well suited for bocks, doppelbocks, and Oktoberfest-style beers. A very versatile lager yeast, it has gained tremendous popularity for use in classic American-style lagers.

Weihenstephaner Lager Strain

Names: Fermentis 34/70, White Labs WLP803, Wyeast 2124, Imperial L13 Global

Styles: All types of lagers, cream ale, Wheat beers

Notes: This famous brewer's yeast strain from Weihenstephan in Germany is used world-wide within the brewing industry. SafLager W-34/70 allows the brewing of beers with a good balance of floral and fruity aromas and gives clean flavors and high drinkable beers.

Weihenstephaner Hefeweizen Strain

Names: Imperial Stefon, Omega OYL-021, WLP-300

Styles: HefeWeizen

Notes: Brewers love this traditional hefeweizen strain for any of their weizen beer needs! This is a traditional German hefeweizen strain used to produce world-class Weizen beers. Balanced with mild clove and prominent banana esters, this strain will produce amazing beers. Stefon produces a slightly higher level of acidity to give your beer a super crisp finish. Slightly underpitching will help increase the banana character.

Augustiner Strain:

Names: Imperial Harvest, Wyeast Munich Lager II

Styles: Helles, Munich Dunkel, Marzen & Bock

Notes: This great lager strain combines good flocculation characteristics with low sulfur and low diacetyl. Clean fermentations produce amazing bock, helles, pilsner, dunkles, and just about any other lager style you throw its way. Fantastic choice for a house lager strain.

Kloster Andechs Strain:

Names: Imperial Pilgrimage, WLP835

Styles: Traditional helles, Oktoberfest, bock, and dunkel.

Notes: The Andechs Monastery and Brewery was allegedely built to serve the large numbers of pilgrims who were making the journey. Classic yeast from a famous Bavarian monastery. This strain develops a creamy, malty beer profile with low sulfur production and low esters.

Schumacher Brewing Dusseldorf Strain

Names: White Labs WLP036 (Düsseldorf Alt), Wyeast 1007 (German Ale), or SafAle K-97 yeast, Imperial Kaiser

Styles: Altbier, Cream Ale, Kolsch

Notes: Dusseldorf Alt is Traditional yeast directly from Dusseldorf, Germany. This strain produces a sweeter more malt forward beer with much less emphasizing hop flavor. Used for brewing Dusseldorf altbiers, as well as German kolsches, cream ale, American IPA, pale and brown ales, specialty honey ales and last but not least herb & spiced beers.