Fast, Clean and Highly Versatile Ale Yeast
CellarScience VELO is a fast-fermenting dry ale yeast selected for clean flavour, high attenuation and reliable performance across an exceptionally wide temperature range.
Originally isolated from a Norwegian mixed culture, VELO produces very low levels of esters and phenols. Its neutral fermentation character allows malt and hop flavours to remain the focus while producing a dry, smooth and polished finish.
VELO is an excellent choice for hop-forward ales, pale ales, session beers, Kölsch-style beers, pseudo-lagers and hard seltzers. Its wide fermentation range also makes it particularly useful for Australian brewers without precise temperature control.
Each 15g sachet is suitable for approximately 19–23 litres of wort at standard ale strength.
Why You'll Love It
- Extremely fast and reliable fermentation
- Clean, neutral flavour profile
- Very low ester and phenol production
- Wide 16–34°C fermentation range
- High 75–83% apparent attenuation
- Produces a dry, smooth finish
- Medium–high flocculation for faster clearing
- Preserves hop brightness and malt character
- Suitable for pressure fermentation up to 12 PSI
- Direct-pitch dry yeast with no rehydration required
- One 15g sachet treats approximately 19–23 litres
- Suitable for beer, pseudo-lagers and hard seltzers
Fermentation Characteristics
| Specification | Performance |
|---|---|
| Yeast species | Saccharomyces cerevisiae |
| Fermentation range | 16–34°C |
| Apparent attenuation | 75–83% |
| Flocculation | Medium–high |
| Alcohol tolerance | Up to approximately 10% ABV with adequate nutrition |
| Pressure tolerance | Up to 12 PSI |
| Flavour profile | Clean and neutral |
| Phenolic character | POF negative |
| STA1 | Negative |
| H₂S production | Low |
| Packet size | 15g |
| Recommended dosage | 0.5–1g per litre |
Flavour Profile
CellarScience VELO produces a clean and highly neutral fermentation profile with minimal ester or phenol character.
The finished beer is generally dry, crisp and smooth, allowing hop aroma, bitterness and malt flavour to remain prominent. Its neutral profile makes VELO particularly useful as a dependable house yeast across multiple beer styles.
Recommended Beer Styles
VELO is well suited to:
- West Coast IPA
- American IPA
- Pale ale
- Session ale
- Blonde ale
- Kölsch-style beer
- Cream ale
- Australian pale ale
- Clean American-style ales
- Pseudo-lagers
- Warm-fermented lager-style beers
- Hard seltzers
- Other neutral sugar-based fermentations
How to Use
For a standard 19–23 litre batch:
- Clean and sanitise the fermenter and all equipment thoroughly.
- Chill the wort to the chosen fermentation temperature.
- Transfer the wort into the sanitised fermenter.
- Sprinkle the entire 15g sachet evenly across the wort surface.
- Seal the fermenter and maintain a stable temperature during active fermentation.
- Allow fermentation to finish completely.
- Confirm a stable final gravity over at least two consecutive readings before packaging.
VELO is designed for direct pitching and does not require rehydration.
Always follow the directions printed on the yeast packet.
Recommended Fermentation Temperatures
For the cleanest and most conventional ale fermentation, pitch and ferment at approximately 17–22°C.
For rapid fermentation where temperature control is limited, VELO can operate at warmer temperatures. The manufacturer specifies a complete fermentation range of 16–34°C.
Although VELO is highly temperature tolerant, maintaining a stable fermentation temperature generally produces the most predictable result.
Pitching Rate
Use approximately 0.5–1g per litre:
- One 15g sachet for a standard 19–23 litre ale
- Use additional yeast for larger batches
- Consider a higher pitching rate for high-gravity wort
- Use the upper dosage range for hard seltzers and low-nutrient fermentations
For larger batches, round up to the next complete sachet rather than storing a partially opened packet.
Can VELO Be Used for Pressure Fermentation?
Yes. VELO is suitable for pressure fermentation up to approximately 12 PSI.
Pressure fermentation can be useful when producing clean pseudo-lagers or fermenting at warmer temperatures. Always use a pressure-rated fermenter with a correctly functioning pressure relief valve.
Do not exceed the pressure rating of the fermenter or the yeast manufacturer’s recommended limit.
Is VELO Suitable for Pseudo-Lagers?
Yes. VELO’s clean flavour, high attenuation and wide temperature range make it well suited to lager-style beers fermented on an ale timeline.
For the cleanest lager-like result, ferment toward the cooler end of its range. The finished beer can then be cold-conditioned to improve clarity and smoothness.
VELO produces a clean ale fermentation but does not replace the exact flavour and fermentation character of a traditional lager strain.
Can VELO Ferment Hard Seltzer?
Yes. VELO is suitable for hard seltzer and other sugar-based fermentations.
Simple sugar solutions contain very little natural yeast nutrition, so a complete seltzer nutrient should be used. Use the upper recommended pitching rate and follow a nutrient schedule designed for hard seltzer fermentation.
How Quickly Does VELO Ferment?
VELO is selected for rapid fermentation and can complete primary fermentation considerably faster than many conventional ale strains.
Actual fermentation time depends on:
- Wort gravity
- Pitching rate
- Fermentation temperature
- Yeast nutrition
- Available fermentable sugars
- Fermenter pressure
Always use stable gravity readings—not airlock activity—to confirm that fermentation is complete.
Is VELO Similar to CellarScience CALI?
Both strains produce a clean and neutral ale profile.
VELO is selected for faster fermentation, stronger flocculation and a wider operating temperature range. CALI remains a traditional choice for clean American ales, while VELO is particularly useful when rapid turnaround or warm-temperature tolerance is important.
How Much Beer Does One Sachet Ferment?
One 15g sachet is designed to ferment approximately 19–23 litres of standard-strength ale wort.
High-gravity beers, larger batches and low-nutrient fermentations may require additional yeast.
Why Buy from Border Brewing Supplies?
Border Brewing Supplies stocks CellarScience dry brewing yeast for home brewers throughout Tweed Heads, the Gold Coast, Northern Rivers, Brisbane and the wider Queensland–New South Wales border region.
Shop online for Australia-wide delivery or select Click & Collect from our Tweed Heads South home brew shop.
Recommended Products
For a healthy and controlled fermentation, consider adding:
- Yeast nutrient
- Hard seltzer nutrient
- Digital brewing thermometer
- Hydrometer or refractometer
- Fermentation temperature controller
- Pressure-rated fermenter
- Spunding valve
- No-rinse sanitiser
