Fermentis SafAle US-05 American Ale Yeast 11g

US-05 is the benchmark American ale yeast — clean, neutral, and more widely used by home brewers worldwide than any other dry strain. It produces a dry, crisp finish that lets hop character speak for itself, with very low ester production and minimal diacetyl.

Best Suited To

• American Pale Ale, West Coast IPA, American IPA
• American Amber, American Wheat, Cream Ale, Blonde Ale
• Any ale style where a clean, neutral fermentation profile is the goal

Specs

• Fermentation temp: 15–24°C (optimal 18–22°C)
• Attenuation: 73–77%
• Flocculation: Medium
• Alcohol tolerance: Up to 11% ABV
• Pitching rate: 50–80g per 100L (1 sachet per 23L)

When to Choose US-05

Choose US-05 over S-04 when you want a drier, cleaner finish and your recipe is American rather than English in character. S-04 leaves more body and clears faster; US-05 ferments more completely and is more neutral.

Choose US-05 over M44 when you want a more forgiving, faster-starting fermentation. M44 attenuates higher and flocculates better, but has a 24–48 hour lag phase that catches beginners off guard. US-05 gets going quickly and is more reliable for first-time brewers.

Practical Notes

Pitch directly onto wort at fermentation temperature, or rehydrate in 10x its weight in 27°C water for 15 minutes. Direct pitching is fine at standard gravity.

Rehydration matters above 1.060. If your original gravity is pushing past that, rehydrate first — it improves cell viability and reduces fermentation stress at higher gravities.

Ferment at 18–22°C for the cleanest result. Above 23°C you will start picking up light fruity notes that detract from the neutral profile.

Keep refrigerated. Once opened, reseal and use within 7 days.

Reviewed by the AHB Brewing Team — June 2026.