Classic English Ale Yeast
Fermentis SafAle S-04 is a fast-fermenting English ale yeast that produces balanced fruity and floral fermentation character with excellent sedimentation and beer clarity.
Its ability to form a compact yeast sediment makes S-04 particularly suitable for traditional English ales, cask-conditioned beer and brewers who want clear beer with efficient yeast separation.
Each sachet contains 11.5g of active dry brewing yeast.
Why You’ll Love It
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Classic English ale fermentation character
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Balanced fruity and floral notes
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Fast and reliable fermentation
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High flocculation and rapid sedimentation
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Forms a compact yeast cake
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Helps produce naturally clear beer
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Suitable for malt-forward and highly hopped ales
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Can be pitched directly into the wort
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Ideal for home brew batches of approximately 20–23 litres
Flavour and Fermentation Profile
SafAle S-04 produces a balanced ale profile with subtle fruity and floral notes that complement English malt and hop varieties without overpowering the beer.
Its fast sedimentation leaves a compact yeast layer at the bottom of the fermenter. This can improve beer clarity and make transferring, kegging or bottling easier.
S-04 generally creates a fuller and more characterful English-style fermentation profile than a clean American ale strain such as SafAle US-05.
Technical Specifications
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Yeast strain: Saccharomyces cerevisiae
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Pack size: 11.5g
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Recommended temperature: Ideally 18–26°C
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Apparent attenuation: Approximately 74–82%
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Alcohol tolerance: Approximately 9–11% ABV
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Sedimentation: Fast
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Flocculation: High
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Ester profile: Low to moderate, with balanced fruity and floral notes
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Phenolic off-flavour: Negative
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Recommended dosage: 50–80g per hectolitre
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Ingredients: Yeast and emulsifier E491
Fermentation performance will vary depending on wort composition, original gravity, mash profile, fermentation temperature and yeast health.
Recommended Beer Styles
SafAle S-04 is an excellent choice for:
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English Pale Ale
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Best Bitter
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Ordinary Bitter
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Extra Special Bitter
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English IPA
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English Porter
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Stout
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Brown Ale
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Mild Ale
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Old Ale
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Barleywine
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Cask-Conditioned Ale
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American Pale Ale
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American IPA
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Red Ale
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Golden Ale
How Many Sachets Should I Use?
One 11.5g sachet is generally suitable for approximately 20–23 litres of standard-strength ale wort.
Consider using additional yeast when brewing:
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High-gravity beer
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Larger batch volumes
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Wort with an original gravity above approximately 1.060
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Beer fermented toward the cooler end of the temperature range
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Wort with challenging fermentation conditions
Correct pitching rates help promote reliable fermentation and reduce the risk of unwanted flavours.
How to Use SafAle S-04
Direct Pitching
Sprinkle the yeast evenly across the surface of the wort at or above your intended fermentation temperature.
Avoid pouring the entire sachet into one spot, as spreading the yeast across the wort helps prevent clumping.
Rehydration
Alternatively, sprinkle the yeast into at least ten times its weight of sterile water or boiled and cooled wort at 25–29°C.
Allow it to rest for 15–30 minutes, gently stir and pitch the resulting yeast cream into the fermenter.
Recommended Fermentation Temperature
Fermentis recommends using SafAle S-04 ideally between 18°C and 26°C.
For a cleaner and more restrained English ale profile, ferment toward the lower end of the range. Warmer fermentation can increase the expression of fruity esters.
Maintain a stable fermentation temperature and confirm fermentation is complete with consistent hydrometer readings before packaging.
SafAle S-04 or SafAle US-05?
Choose SafAle S-04 when you want:
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English ale character
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A slightly fuller malt impression
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Balanced fruity and floral notes
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Fast sedimentation
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A compact yeast cake
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Improved natural clarity
Choose SafAle US-05 when you want:
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A cleaner American fermentation profile
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Greater emphasis on hops
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Slower sedimentation
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More yeast remaining in suspension during fermentation
Storage
Store unopened sachets in a cool, dry location away from direct sunlight and heat.
For extended storage, keep below 15°C. Refer to the best-before date printed on the sachet.
Once opened, reseal the sachet, refrigerate at approximately 4°C and use within seven days. Do not use sachets that are soft, damaged or no longer properly sealed.
Why Buy from Border Brewing Supplies?
Border Brewing Supplies stocks fresh brewing yeast and ingredients for home brewers throughout Tweed Heads, the Gold Coast, Northern Rivers, Brisbane and the wider Queensland–New South Wales border region.
Order online for Australia-wide delivery or visit our Tweed Heads South home brew shop for practical brewing advice and local Click & Collect.
Recommended Products
For a healthy and reliable fermentation, consider adding:
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Servomyces Yeast Nutrient
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Digital Brewing Thermometer
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Hydrometer
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No-Rinse Brewing Sanitiser
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Oxygenation Equipment
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English Hops
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Brewing Salts
