Brewing decisions, explained
Yeast substitution chart for beer
Pick a yeast with the same job, not just a similar name: check its style, temperature range and attenuation on the maker’s page before swapping. This chart lists only the pairings our yeast comparison guides cover, with what each maker says the yeast is for, and says plainly where two yeasts are close but not the same strain.
BrewMyBeer Editorial Team · Sources checked 24 September 2026 · Calculated examples, not laboratory measurements. How we create content
Yeast pairings our pages compare (8)
Showing 8 of 8 yeasts.
Wyeast 1056 American Ale
Wyeast: very clean, crisp, low fruitiness and mild esters; a versatile house strain.
Compared with White Labs WLP001 California Ale · Fermentis SafAle US-05
Our comparison page describes all three as derived from the Chico strain. Our morphology page reports that US-05 and WLP001 are not identical, and the manufacturer pages we read state no shared origin. Treat them as close candidates, not the same yeast.
Fermentis SafAle US-05
Fermentis: neutral, well-balanced, clean and crisp American ales.
Compared with Fermentis SafAle S-04
Our comparison page says both can be candidates for the same ale recipe without giving identical results. Fermentis describes S-04 as fruity and floral for English or American ales, so expect more yeast character.
Fermentis SafLager W-34/70
Fermentis: the Weihenstephan lager strain, floral and fruity balance with clean flavours.
Compared with Fermentis SafLager S-23 · White Labs WLP830 German Lager
Our pages compare these as lager options only. Fermentis describes S-23 as fruity and estery, and our WLP830 page says a similar style recommendation does not prove two products are the same strain.
Lallemand LalBrew Voss (kveik)
Lallemand: a kveik strain from Sigmund Gjernes in Voss, Norway, for very fast, high-temperature fermentation with subtle orange and citrus notes.
Compared with Omega Lutra kveik
Our comparison page sets them side by side for warm fermentation. Our Voss page says a familiar kveik name is a candidate to investigate, not proof of an identical culture: check the replacement’s own temperature range and pitch instructions.
Fermentis SafAle BE-256
Fermentis: Belgian abbey-style ales with fruitiness and high alcohol.
Compared with Fermentis SafAle T-58
Our comparison page sets these two Belgian-style dry yeasts against each other. Fermentis describes T-58 as fruity and spicy with phenolic flavours, so it changes the beer’s character rather than copying BE-256.
Fermentis SafAle WB-06
Fermentis: wheat-based beers.
Compared with Lallemand LalBrew Munich Classic
Our comparison page covers both as dry wheat-beer yeasts. We could not load Lallemand’s Munich Classic page when checking, so its manufacturer description is not repeated here.
Lallemand LalBrew Diamond Lager
A dry lager yeast, per our comparison page; Lallemand’s product page could not be loaded when checked.
Compared with Lallemand LalBrew NovaLager
Our comparison page covers both as modern dry lager yeasts. Lallemand describes NovaLager as producing clean lagers with fast fermentation, low sulfur and low diacetyl.
Lallemand LalBrew Nottingham
An English-origin dry ale yeast, per our comparison page; Lallemand’s product page could not be loaded when checked.
Compared with Lallemand LalBrew Windsor
Not a swap for Windsor: our comparison page says the two are not interchangeable in any meaningful way. It describes Nottingham as a clean, high-attenuation strain and Windsor as a fruity, low-attenuation one.
Why this chart is short
The chart has 8 rows because we used only those of our yeast comparison guides where a manufacturer page could be checked or the guide states a clear limit. Other comparisons were left out rather than repeated unchecked, and no pairing comes from anywhere else: lab equivalence claims are easy to repeat and hard to verify. Each row links its guide and the manufacturer pages we read on 4 November 2026.
Where a manufacturer page could not be loaded, the row says so and relies on our comparison guide alone. One row is included because the guide says the two yeasts are not interchangeable: that is useful to know before you swap.
Close is not the same
Two products sold for the same style can still differ in attenuation, flocculation, flavour and temperature range. Our own guides say a familiar strain name or a shared style recommendation does not prove two products are the same culture.
When you swap, keep the pitch rate, temperature and oxygen in line with the new yeast’s own instructions, and record the change so you can compare batches honestly.
Before you use the result
- Read the replacement yeast’s current temperature range and pitching instructions.
- Check attenuation if the recipe depends on a particular final gravity.
- Record which yeast you used; a swap is a new fermentation plan.
- For adults of legal drinking age. Brewing and alcohol laws vary by location.
A quick learning check
Two yeasts are both sold for clean American ales. Does that make them the same strain?
Try a craft decision game →Sources & further reading
- Wyeast: 1056 American Ale ↗
- Fermentis: SafAle US-05 ↗
- Fermentis: SafLager W-34/70 ↗
- White Labs: WLP830 German Lager Yeast ↗
- Lallemand: LalBrew Voss ↗
These references explain the methods and limitations. The worked examples and learning questions on this page are BrewMyBeer calculations, not claims of hands-on testing.