Yeast hub
Brewing Yeast by Brand, Style & Strain
Find the right yeast by format, brand, fermentation style, or support item. Liquid yeast is cold-stored before shipment, with warm-weather options available when needed.
Choose yeast by need
Start with strain, brand, or fermentation goal.
Narrow the yeast wall down before you shop.
White Labs YeastFresh liquid yeast strains for clean fermentation planning.Shop White Labs →All Brewing YeastBrowse liquid and dry yeast across beer, cider, mead, wine, and sake.Shop all yeast →Ale YeastsAmerican, English, Belgian, saison, kveik, and other ale strains.Shop ale yeast →Lager YeastsClean lager strains for pilsner, helles, märzen, bock, and more.Shop lager yeast →Dry YeastShelf-stable dry strains from brands like Lallemand and more.Shop dry yeast →Yeast NutrientsNutrients and enhancers for healthier fermentation.Shop nutrients →Starter & Propagation GearFlasks, stir plates, and tools for building yeast starters.Shop starter gear →Yeast by StyleBrowse yeast recommendations by beer style and region.Choose by style →
Protect liquid yeast in transit
Review cold shipping guidance before ordering liquid yeast during warm weather.
Brewing Yeast FAQ
What is the difference between dry yeast and liquid yeast?
Dry yeast is shelf-stable, convenient, and reliable for many beer, cider, wine, and mead fermentations. Liquid yeast gives brewers access to a wider range of expressive, seasonal, or style-specific strains, but it is more temperature-sensitive.
How should liquid yeast be shipped?
Liquid yeast is stored cold before shipment at SoCal Brewing Supply. During warm weather, insulated mailers, ice packs, and faster shipping are strongly recommended, though no shipping method can fully control carrier heat exposure or delays.
How do I choose a yeast strain?
Choose yeast by beverage type, fermentation temperature, attenuation, flocculation, alcohol tolerance, and flavor profile. Start with ale yeast, lager yeast, dry yeast, or yeast nutrients.
Homebrew yeast comparison guide
Choosing yeast is one of the fastest ways to change a beer, wine, mead, cider, or sake fermentation. Start with the beverage style, then compare yeast form, fermentation temperature, alcohol tolerance, flavor profile, and handling needs.
| Yeast type | Best for | What to watch |
|---|---|---|
| Dry yeast | Reliable everyday brewing, wine, cider, mead, hard seltzer, and backup yeast packs. | Store sealed and cool when possible; match strain and fermentation temperature to the style. |
| Liquid brewing yeast | Style-specific beers, expressive ale strains, specialty lager strains, and brewers who want a wider yeast-bank selection. | More temperature-sensitive during storage and shipping; consider starters for older packs or higher-gravity batches. |
| Ale yeast | IPAs, pale ales, stouts, porters, Belgian ales, wheat beers, saisons, and many fast-turnaround beers. | Fermentation temperature strongly affects ester, phenol, and attenuation profile. |
| Lager yeast | Pilsner, helles, märzen, bock, Mexican lager, and other clean cold-fermented styles. | Often needs cooler fermentation control, adequate pitch rate, and patient conditioning. |
| Wine, mead, and cider yeast | Fruit wine, grape wine, cider, mead, and higher-alcohol fermentations. | Nutrient management matters, especially for mead, cider, seltzer, and high-gravity musts. |
Yeast starter and pitching temperature basics
Dry yeast is often pitched directly according to the manufacturer’s directions, while liquid yeast may benefit from a starter when the pack is older, the batch is high gravity, or the recipe needs a higher pitch rate. For best results, avoid shocking yeast with large temperature swings: chill wort or must into the strain’s recommended range before pitching, oxygenate when appropriate, and use yeast nutrients when the fermentation needs extra support.
If you are ordering liquid yeast during warm weather, review our yeast shipping best practices and consider insulated packaging when appropriate. Local customers can also use the Vista shop for pickup when available.