Clean American Ale Yeast with Subtle Fruit Character
Brew clean, balanced and hop-forward American ales with CellarScience West Coast Ale Yeast.
This dependable dry ale yeast delivers the neutral fermentation profile expected from a classic American ale strain, with just enough subtle fruit character to add depth without overpowering the malt or hops.
It is an excellent choice for West Coast IPA, American Pale Ale, Blonde Ale, Amber Ale, Porter, Stout and other beer styles requiring a clean, reliable fermentation.
Each 15g sachet treats approximately 19–23 litres of wort.
Why You'll Love It
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Clean and dependable American ale fermentation
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Subtle fruit character adds gentle flavour depth
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Allows hop and malt flavours to remain prominent
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Ideal for West Coast IPA and American Pale Ale
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Suitable as a versatile house yeast
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Medium-to-high flocculation supports good clarification
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Wide 15–22°C fermentation range
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Approximately 75–84% attenuation
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Alcohol tolerance up to approximately 10% ABV
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One 15g sachet treats a standard 19–23 litre batch
Yeast Profile
CellarScience West Coast produces a clean and balanced fermentation profile with only a light touch of fruit character.
Unlike highly expressive English or Belgian strains, its yeast-derived flavours remain in the background. This allows citrus, pine, resin, tropical fruit and stone-fruit hop varieties to remain clear and defined.
The clean profile also works well in malt-driven beers where excessive esters would interfere with caramel, toast, chocolate or roasted malt character.
Technical Specifications
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Yeast type: Dry American ale yeast
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Fermentation range: 15–22°C
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Recommended general fermentation temperature: 17–20°C
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Attenuation: Approximately 75–84%
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Flocculation: Medium to high
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Alcohol tolerance: Up to approximately 10% ABV
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Pitching rate: Approximately 0.5–1g per litre
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Batch size: One 15g sachet treats approximately 19–23 litres
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Packet size: 15g
Suitable Beer Styles
CellarScience West Coast Ale Yeast is suitable for:
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West Coast IPA
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American IPA
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American Pale Ale
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Session IPA
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American Blonde Ale
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American Amber Ale
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Red Ale
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Cream Ale
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American Porter
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American Stout
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Hop-forward Golden Ale
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Clean, modern house ales
How to Use
For a standard-strength 19–23 litre batch, sprinkle the contents of one 15g sachet evenly over the surface of properly cooled wort.
No rehydration is required. However, the wort should be prepared using good brewing practices, including correct sanitation, suitable yeast pitching rates and adequate wort aeration.
For most American ales, pitch at approximately 17–18°C and allow fermentation to proceed between 17–20°C. A slightly warmer finish can help the yeast complete attenuation and clean up remaining fermentation compounds.
Use additional yeast for high-gravity wort, unusually large batches or difficult fermentation conditions.
How Much Yeast Should I Pitch?
One 15g sachet is suitable for approximately 19–23 litres of standard-strength wort.
The recommended pitching range is approximately 0.5–1g per litre. Use the higher end of the range for stronger wort, colder fermentation or batches requiring a particularly fast and dependable start.
For high-gravity beer, it is better to pitch an additional full sachet rather than saving and measuring a partially opened packet.
What Temperature Should I Ferment At?
CellarScience West Coast can ferment between 15°C and 22°C.
For the cleanest American ale profile, fermenting at approximately 17–20°C is recommended. Cooler fermentation may produce a cleaner result but can take longer, while warmer fermentation may increase the subtle fruit character.
Always measure the temperature of the fermenting beer rather than relying only on the surrounding room temperature.
What Does CellarScience West Coast Taste Like?
It produces a clean and neutral American ale profile with a restrained touch of fruit character.
The yeast remains subtle enough to showcase hop aroma and bitterness while adding enough depth to prevent the finished beer from tasting overly plain or stripped back.
Is It Suitable for West Coast IPA?
Yes. Its clean fermentation, strong attenuation and restrained ester profile make it particularly well suited to West Coast IPA.
The yeast allows citrus, pine, resin and tropical hop flavours to remain prominent while helping create the dry, crisp finish associated with the style.
Is It Suitable for Hazy IPA?
It can ferment a Hazy IPA, but it is primarily suited to cleaner American beer styles.
For a softer, fruitier and more expressive Hazy IPA, a dedicated New England or English-derived ale yeast will generally produce a more suitable flavour and mouthfeel.
Is This Similar to a Classic American Ale Strain?
Yes. CellarScience West Coast is designed around the clean, dependable character associated with classic American ale yeast.
It provides neutral fermentation with subtle fruit character, good attenuation and reliable performance across a broad range of American beer styles.
Does the Yeast Need Rehydrating?
No. It can be sprinkled directly onto the cooled wort.
Rehydration is optional rather than necessary. Correct pitching temperature, sanitation and sufficient yeast quantity are more important for a reliable fermentation.
Why Buy from Border Brewing Supplies?
Border Brewing Supplies stocks dry brewing yeast and fresh homebrew ingredients for 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.
You May Also Need
For a reliable American ale fermentation, consider adding:
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Yeast nutrient
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American hop varieties
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Light dried malt extract
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Brewing water salts
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No-rinse sanitiser
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Hydrometer or refractometer
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Fermentation temperature controller
