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Best dry yeast for IPA and pale ale (maker data)

The best dry yeast for IPA and pale ale compared by maker temperature range, dose and attenuation: US-05, BRY-97, Verdant, M44, Nottingham and kveik.

Updated November 2026 · 8 min read · Based on maker specs, not brew tests

A hand dropping hop pellets into a kettle of boiling wort
Fermentis SafAle US-05 Dry Ale Yeast, 11.5 gLallemand LalBrew BRY-97 West Coast Ale Yeast (3-pack)Lallemand LalBrew Verdant IPA Yeast, 11 gMangrove Jack's M44 US West Coast Dry YeastWhite Labs WLP001 California Ale Yeast (Dry)Lallemand LalBrew Nottingham Ale Yeast, 11 g
Photo: jon.roberts, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Flickr
The short version
  • For a clean West Coast IPA, SafAle US-05 is the reference dry strain: Fermentis lists 64–79°F (18–26°C), 50–80 g/hL and 78–82% apparent attenuation.
  • LalBrew Verdant is the dry pick for hazy and English-style IPAs, with apricot, tropical and citrus notes per Lallemand.
  • In a hot garage, kveik strains (LalBrew Voss, Omega Lutra) ferment warm: Lallemand lists Voss's optimum at 95–104°F (35–40°C).
  • One 11.5 g sachet covers about 3.8–6 gal at the US-05 dose; stronger IPAs may need two. Check with the pitch-rate calculator.

The best dry yeast for IPA is the one that matches the IPA you want: crisp and bitter, juicy and hazy, English and bready, or brewed in a summer garage with no fridge. Dry yeast is the easy default for home brewers because it ships and stores well, and its makers publish the numbers that matter: temperature, dose and attenuation.

This list ranks nine dry strains from five brands, using maker technical sheets and listing data only. Where a listing gives no numbers (Mangrove Jack's M44 and Fermentis S-04 here), we say so and point you to the maker's sheet. The data table further down pulls its figures straight from the Fermentis and Lallemand sheets.

Our picks

Fermentis SafAle US-05 Dry Ale Yeast, 11.5 g
Best for West Coast IPA

Fermentis SafAle US-05 Dry Ale Yeast, 11.5 g

Fermentis

Type
Dry ale yeast, American
Dose
50–80 g/hL (11.5 g ≈ 3.8–6 gal)
Temp
59–75°F (15–24°C)

SafAle US-05 is the clean American ale reference. Fermentis's product page lists 64–79°F (18–26°C), a dose of 50–80 g/hL and 78–82% apparent attenuation, with optional rehydration or direct pitching. One 11.5 g sachet treats about 3.8–6 gal at that dose. The listing itself gives a narrower 59–75°F 'ideal' range; we use the maker page.

Best for: Crisp, bitter American IPAs and pale ales

Skip if: You want fruity yeast character in a hazy IPA

What stands out
  • Maker dose and temperature published
  • 78–82% apparent attenuation
  • Direct pitch allowed by Fermentis
Keep in mind
  • Low to medium sedimentation per listing
  • Listing and maker temperature ranges differ
Lallemand LalBrew BRY-97 West Coast Ale Yeast (3-pack)
Best alternative clean strain

Lallemand LalBrew BRY-97 West Coast Ale Yeast (3-pack)

Lallemand (LalBrew)

Type
Dry ale yeast, American
Temp
59–72°F

LalBrew BRY-97 is Lallemand's American West Coast ale strain, sold here as a three-pack. The listing gives 59–72°F and says it produces a clean finish that lets hop flavor and aroma come through, with no rehydration or starter needed.

Best for: West Coast IPAs and American pale ales

Skip if: You only brew one batch a year (three sachets)

What stands out
  • Clean finish per maker
  • 59–72°F listed
  • Three sachets
Keep in mind
  • Attenuation not on this listing
  • Dose not on this listing
Lallemand LalBrew Verdant IPA Yeast, 11 g
Best for hazy IPA

Lallemand LalBrew Verdant IPA Yeast, 11 g

Lallemand (LalBrew)

Type
Dry ale yeast, English-derived

LalBrew Verdant was developed with Verdant Brewing Co. Lallemand describes notes of apricot with tropical fruit and citrus that merge with hop aroma, and lists NEIPA, English IPA, American pale, English bitter, sweet stout and sours as fits.

Best for: NEIPAs and English-style IPAs

Skip if: You want a neutral yeast that stays out of the way

What stands out
  • Fruity esters that suit hazy IPA
  • Wide style list per maker
  • 11 g sachet
Keep in mind
  • Temperature not on this listing
  • Dose not on this listing
Mangrove Jack's M44 US West Coast Dry Yeast
Mangrove Jack's West Coast option

Mangrove Jack's M44 US West Coast Dry Yeast

Mangrove Jack's

Type
Dry ale yeast, American

M44 is Mangrove Jack's US West Coast dry strain, sold for clean IPAs and pale ales. This listing gives no temperature, dose or attenuation, so download Mangrove Jack's sheet before you plan the batch.

Best for: Brewers who want a second clean American strain to compare

Skip if: You need maker numbers on the listing

What stands out
  • Clean American ale strain
  • Single sachet
Keep in mind
  • Temperature not listed
  • Dose and attenuation not listed
White Labs WLP001 California Ale Yeast (Dry)
Best for a drier finish

White Labs WLP001 California Ale Yeast (Dry)

White Labs

Type
Dry ale yeast, American
Temp
64–73°F (18–23°C)
Attenuation
73–85%

White Labs' dry WLP001 California Ale lists 73–85% attenuation, medium flocculation, high alcohol tolerance (10–15%) and 64–73°F (18–23°C). The style list runs from American IPA and double IPA to barleywine.

Best for: Double IPAs and brewers used to liquid WLP001

Skip if: Your garage runs above 73°F without control

What stands out
  • 73–85% attenuation listed
  • 10–15% alcohol tolerance listed
  • 64–73°F range
Keep in mind
  • Narrower warm limit
  • Dose not on this listing
Lallemand LalBrew Nottingham Ale Yeast, 11 g
Best fast, clean backup

Lallemand LalBrew Nottingham Ale Yeast, 11 g

Lallemand (LalBrew)

Type
Dry ale yeast, English
Dose
50–100 g/hL
Temp
59–68°F (listing); 10–25°C on TDS
Attenuation
78–84% (TDS)

LalBrew Nottingham is an English strain that ferments clean and fast. Lallemand's sheet lists 50–77°F (10–25°C), 50–100 g/hL, 78–84% attenuation and 14% ABV tolerance, and says dry pitching is the preferred method. The listing's 59–68°F range is narrower than the sheet's.

Best for: A reliable spare packet for any pale ale or IPA

Skip if: You want an American-yeast character

What stands out
  • Dry pitch preferred per Lallemand
  • Wide 50–77°F (10–25°C) range
  • 14% ABV tolerance
Keep in mind
  • Listing title and bullets disagree on sachet size
  • English, not American, strain
Fermentis SafAle S-04 Dry Ale Yeast, 11.5 g
Best for English IPA

Fermentis SafAle S-04 Dry Ale Yeast, 11.5 g

Fermentis

Type
Dry ale yeast, English

SafAle S-04 is Fermentis's English ale strain for bitters, porters, stouts and English IPA. This listing gives no fermentation data at all, so use the Fermentis technical sheet for temperature and dose.

Best for: English IPAs with a malty backbone

Skip if: You want a West Coast profile

What stands out
  • English ale character
  • 11.5 g sachet
Keep in mind
  • No temperature on this listing
  • No dose on this listing
Lallemand LalBrew Voss Kveik Ale Yeast, 11 g
Best for a hot garage

Lallemand LalBrew Voss Kveik Ale Yeast, 11 g

Lallemand (LalBrew)

Type
Dry kveik ale yeast
Temp
95–104°F (35–40°C) optimal

LalBrew Voss is a Norwegian kveik strain. Lallemand lists a very high optimal range of 95–104°F (35–40°C), 76–82% attenuation, 12% ABV tolerance, 50–100 g/hL, very high flocculation and a neutral profile with subtle orange and citrus notes. It lets you ferment an IPA in summer without temperature control.

Best for: Summer IPAs with no fermentation chamber

Skip if: You want a classic American-yeast profile

What stands out
  • 95–104°F optimum
  • Very high flocculation
  • Fast, warm fermentation
Keep in mind
  • Citrus/orange note isn't neutral for every IPA
  • Dose not on this listing
Omega Yeast Lutra Kveik Dry Yeast, 11 g
Best clean kveik

Omega Yeast Lutra Kveik Dry Yeast, 11 g

Omega Yeast

Type
Dry kveik yeast
Temp
68–95°F (20–35°C)
Attenuation
75–82%

Omega's Lutra is a kveik strain sold as clean and heat-tolerant: 68–95°F (20–35°C), 75–82% attenuation and medium-high flocculation per the listing, with no temperature control needed. It's the warm-garage choice when you want less orange character than Voss.

Best for: Clean IPAs and pale ales in summer

Skip if: You can already hold 64–68°F

What stands out
  • 68–95°F range listed
  • 75–82% attenuation
  • Clean profile per maker
Keep in mind
  • Dose not on this listing
  • Contains emulsifier E491 per listing

Dry yeast for IPA compared by maker numbers

Three numbers decide most of the outcome: the temperature range (where the yeast tastes the way the maker describes), the dose (how much yeast per volume) and attenuation (how dry the beer finishes). The table below is built from the Fermentis and Lallemand technical sheets; the strain table after it adds listing data for the others.

Green hop cones hanging from a hop bine
IPA yeast should let the hops lead.Photo: Robert Flogaus-Faust, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Dry yeast by the maker’s numbers

YeastUseFermentation tempDoseAttenuation / toleranceRehydration
SafAle US-05
Fermentis
Ale (American)18–26°C (64.4–78.8°F)50–80 g/hL78–82%; not listed on the product pageOptional: ≥10× its weight of sterile water or boiled, hopped wort at 25–29°C (77–84°F), 15–30 min; or direct pitch at or above fermentation temperature
SafAle S-04
Fermentis
Ale (English)18–26°C (64.4–78.8°F)50–80 g/hL74–82%; 9–11% ABVOptional: ≥10× its weight of sterile water or boiled, hopped wort at 25–29°C (77–84°F), 15–30 min; or direct pitch at or above fermentation temperature
SafLager W-34/70
Fermentis
Lager12–18°C (53.6–64.4°F)80–120 g/hL80–84%; 9–11% ABVOptional: ≥10× its weight of sterile water or boiled, hopped wort at 15–25°C (59–77°F), 15–30 min; or direct pitch at or above fermentation temperature
LalBrew Nottingham
Lallemand
Ale (English)10–25°C (50–77°F)50–100 g/hL78–84%; 14% ABVDry pitching is the maker's preferred method (no significant difference vs rehydration, per Lallemand)
LalBrew Voss (kveik)
Lallemand
Ale (kveik)25–40°C (77–104°F)
Optimum 35–40°C (95–104°F) per Lallemand
50–100 g/hL76–82%; 12% ABVPer the sachet
Lalvin EC-1118
Lallemand
Wine, cider, mead10–30°C (50–86°F)25 g/hLFerments dry; 18% v/v (subject to conditions)35–40°C (95–104°F) water for 20 min with Go-Ferm Protect Evolution (30 g/hL), then temper to within 5–10°C of the must

Sources: Fermentis: SafAle US-05 product page; Fermentis: SafAle S-04 product page; Fermentis: SafLager W-34/70 product page; Lallemand: LalBrew Nottingham technical data sheet; Lallemand Brewing: LalBrew Voss Kveik Ale Yeast product page; Lallemand: Lalvin EC-1118 technical data sheet. 1 hL = 26.4 US gal, so 50 g/hL ≈ 1.9 g per gallon. Follow the sachet you buy; makers update their sheets.

Other IPA strains: listing data

StrainMakerTemperature (listed)Attenuation (listed)Flocculation
LalBrew BRY-97Lallemand59–72°FNot listedNot listed
LalBrew Verdant IPALallemandNot listedNot listedNot listed
M44 US West CoastMangrove Jack'sNot listedNot listedNot listed
WLP001 California Ale (dry)White Labs64–73°F (18–23°C)73–85%Medium
SafAle S-04FermentisNot listedNot listedNot listed
Lutra kveikOmega68–95°F (20–35°C)75–82%Medium-high

Source: Product listings, November 2026

Warm limit of each strain's listed range

Upper temperature from the maker sheet or listing, °F

BRY-97BRY-97: 72°F72°FWLP001 (dry)WLP001 (dry): 73°F73°FNottingham (TDS)Nottingham (TDS): 77°F77°FUS-05 (Fermentis)US-05 (Fermentis): 79°F79°FLutraLutra: 95°F95°FVoss (optimum)Voss (optimum): 104°F104°F
Source: Fermentis, Lallemand TDS and listings

The warm limit isn't a target. Most clean American strains taste cleanest toward the cool end of their range, and kveik is the exception that likes heat.

How much dry yeast for a 5-gallon IPA?

Makers dose dry yeast by weight per volume. At the US-05 dose of 50–80 g/hL, a 5 gal (19 L) batch needs roughly 9.5–15 g, so one 11.5 g sachet sits in the middle of the range. Lallemand's Nottingham range of 50–100 g/hL runs to about 19 g for the same batch. Stronger IPAs, especially double IPAs, sit at the top of the range or above, which usually means two sachets.

50–80 g/hLSafAle US-05 doseFermentis
≈9.5–15 gUS-05 for 5 gal (19 L) at that doseArithmetic: 0.19 hL × dose
36 monthsUS-05 shelf life from productionFermentis
Yeast pitch rate calculatorEnter your volume and gravity to get grams of dry yeast at the maker's dose.

A starter isn't needed for dry yeast; makers dose by weight. Rehydration is optional for US-05 per Fermentis, and Lallemand prefers dry pitching for Nottingham. Either way, follow the sachet.

How to pitch dry yeast into an IPA step by step

  1. Check the date and storage

    Fermentis says to keep US-05 below 75°F (24°C) for up to 6 months and below 59°F (15°C) beyond that. A fridge is ideal.

  2. Chill the wort into range

    Cool to the lower part of the strain's range before pitching, for example the mid-60s °F for US-05 or BRY-97. Kveik is the exception: pitch it warm.

  3. Aerate

    Shake or splash the cooled wort before pitching. If you later repitch harvested yeast, Lallemand notes that wort aeration is required.

  4. Pitch the right weight

    Use the pitch-rate calculator. For big IPAs, plan two sachets.

  5. Hold temperature for the first days

    Most flavor is set early. A swamp cooler or controller helps; in summer, switch to kveik.

  6. Dry hop, then confirm final gravity

    Add dry hops per your recipe, then wait for a stable gravity over 2–3 days before packaging. Log OG and FG for the ABV calculator.

Dry yeast granules in a blue bowl
Dry yeast can be sprinkled straight onto the wort.Photo: No machine-readable author provided. Ranveig assumed (based on copyright claims)., Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Mistakes to avoid

  • Fermenting clean American yeast too warm. A garage at 80°F (27°C) is above US-05's maker range and above BRY-97's listed range.
  • Under-pitching a double IPA. High gravity needs more yeast; check the dose against volume and gravity.
  • Trusting the listing over the maker sheet. Listings for US-05 and Nottingham show narrower temperature ranges than the maker data; use the sheet.
  • Rehydrating in the wrong water. If you rehydrate US-05, Fermentis specifies at least 10× its weight of sterile water or boiled, hopped wort at 77–84°F (25–29°C).
  • Leaving opened sachets out. Fermentis says to reseal, keep at 39°F (4°C) and use within 7 days.
  • Choosing Voss for a classic West Coast IPA. Its orange and citrus notes can show; Lutra or a chamber with US-05 are closer.

Who should choose which yeast?

Pick by IPA style and garage

You brew…ChooseWhy
West Coast IPA, temp controlUS-05 or BRY-97Clean, published ranges
Hazy / NEIPAVerdantApricot, tropical and citrus esters per maker
Double IPAWLP001 dry or US-05 (two sachets)Listed 10–15% tolerance; maker doses
English IPAS-04 or NottinghamEnglish ale character
Any IPA, hot garage, no chamberLutra (cleaner) or VossWarm ranges up to 95–104°F

IPAs are often stronger than commercial lagers, so pour with that in mind.

Know what’s in the glassHomebrew is often stronger than commercial beer. One US standard drink is 14 g of alcohol: 12 oz of 5% beer or 5 oz of 12% wine. Brewing and drinking are for adults 21 and over; never drink and drive.Source: NIAAA: What is a standard drink?

Browse every strain in yeast and nutrients, hops and malt in ingredients and milling, and warm-weather gear in temperature control and summer. Work out bitterness in the IBU calculator. Beer worts rarely need extra nutrient, but high-adjunct or very strong worts can; see the best yeast nutrients.

Verdict

SafAle US-05 is the safest choice for a clean West Coast IPA, because Fermentis publishes every number you need: 64–79°F (18–26°C), 50–80 g/hL and 78–82% attenuation. Pick LalBrew Verdant for hazy IPAs, WLP001 dry for drier double IPAs, and Nottingham as the fast, clean spare. In a hot garage, Omega Lutra keeps things clean up to 95°F and LalBrew Voss runs up to 104°F.

Before you buy, read rehydrate dry yeast or direct pitch? and kveik yeast: brewing without temperature control. For a closer look, see Dry vs liquid yeast.

How we chose

We compared maker technical sheets (Fermentis US-05; Lallemand Nottingham, Voss and EC-1118, the sheets behind our yeast table) and listing data for each strain's temperature range, dose, attenuation, flocculation and alcohol tolerance. Where the listing and the maker sheet disagree, we use the maker sheet and say so. We did not ferment with these yeasts. No scores or prices.

ABV calculatorWork out ABV from OG and FG with the standard and high-gravity formulas, hydrometer temperature correction,…IBU calculator (Tinseth)Calculate beer bitterness in IBU with the Tinseth formula: add hop additions by weight, alpha acid and boil…Yeast pitch rate calculatorYeast pitch rate calculator: cells needed for ales and lagers by volume and gravity, dry yeast grams from…

Questions

What is the best dry yeast for IPA?
For a clean West Coast IPA, SafAle US-05; for a hazy IPA, LalBrew Verdant. In a hot garage without temperature control, a kveik strain such as Omega Lutra or LalBrew Voss.
US-05 vs BRY-97: which is better for IPA?
Both are clean American ale strains. US-05 has fuller published maker data (64–79°F or 18–26°C, 50–80 g/hL, 78–82% attenuation); BRY-97's listing gives 59–72°F and a clean finish that lets hops come through. Either suits a West Coast IPA.
How much dry yeast do I need for 5 gallons?
At the US-05 dose of 50–80 g/hL, about 9.5–15 g for 5 gal (19 L), so one 11.5 g sachet for a standard-strength IPA and often two for a double IPA. The pitch-rate calculator does the math.
Do I need to rehydrate dry yeast?
Not necessarily. Fermentis lists rehydration as optional for US-05 and allows direct pitching at or above fermentation temperature; Lallemand says dry pitching is the preferred method for Nottingham.
Can I brew an IPA without temperature control?
Yes, with kveik. Omega lists Lutra at 68–95°F (20–35°C) and Lallemand lists Voss's optimum at 95–104°F (35–40°C). Clean American strains taste best inside their published ranges.
How should I store dry yeast?
Follow the sachet. Fermentis says US-05 keeps below 75°F (24°C) for up to 6 months and below 59°F (15°C) beyond that, with a 36-month shelf life; opened sachets go in the fridge and get used within 7 days.

Sources

  1. Fermentis: SafAle US-05 product page
  2. Lallemand: LalBrew Nottingham technical data sheet
  3. Lallemand Brewing (LalBrew Voss)
  4. American Homebrewers Association: Determining proper yeast pitch rates
  5. NIAAA: What is a standard drink?