Home Brew Yeast

Choose yeast by what you're making and the style you want. For ales, Safale US-05 gives a clean American character, S-04 gives an English one, and Nottingham suits most ales. For lagers, use a lager strain such as SafLager W-34/70, S-23 or Mangrove Jack's M84. Wine needs a wine yeast such as Lalvin EC-1118 or K1V-1116 or the Gervin GV range. Cider ferments best with a cider strain such as Gervin GV13 or Mangrove Jack's M02.

Buying guide & FAQs

Home brew yeast is one of the most important ingredients in any fermentation, and getting the right strain for your beer, wine, or cider can transform your homebrew from good to exceptional. At BrewCo UK we stock one of the UK's widest selections of homebrew yeast, with over 75 varieties covering ale yeast, lager yeast, wine yeast, cider yeast, turbo yeast, and specialist strains for every style imaginable. Whatever you're fermenting, we have the yeast to do it justice.

Yeast is responsible for converting sugars into alcohol and CO2, but it also produces the esters, phenols, and flavour compounds that give your homebrew its unique character. An English ale yeast produces a very different result to a Belgian or American strain — and choosing the right one is key to nailing your recipe. Our range includes trusted brands such as Gervin, Fermentis, Lalvin, Alcotec, Youngs, and Bulldog, all known for reliable fermentation and consistent results.

Not sure which strain to pick? Use our Beer & Cider Yeast Selector or Wine Yeast Selector to filter and compare every strain we stock side by side.

Whether you're brewing a classic British bitter, a fruity saison, a crisp dry cider, or a rich country wine, you'll find the right homebrew yeast right here. Browse by style, brand, or fermentation temperature to find your perfect match, and get your next batch fermenting with confidence. Shop the full home brew yeast range at BrewCo UK today.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much yeast do I need for 23 litres?

One 10–11.5g sachet of dried yeast is enough for a typical 23L beer or wine batch at normal strength. For very strong beers or cold lager fermentations, many brewers use two.

Can I use bread yeast for home brew?

It isn't recommended. Bread yeast gives bready off-flavours, poor clearing and low alcohol tolerance. Brewing and wine yeasts are made to ferment cleanly and settle out.

What's the best yeast to upgrade a beer kit?

Swap the kit yeast for Safale US-05 for clean, hoppy beers, S-04 or Nottingham for British ales, or a Mangrove Jack's Craft Series strain matched to the style. See our beer and cider yeast comparison chart.

Which yeast should I use to restart a stuck fermentation?

Use a vigorous, alcohol-tolerant strain such as Gervin GV7 Restart or Lalvin EC-1118. Add yeast nutrient and keep the brew at a steady, warm temperature. See our wine yeast comparison chart.

How should I store dried yeast?

Keep sachets in the fridge and use them before the best-before date. Dried yeast is far more stable than liquid yeast but still loses vitality in warm conditions.